Preventing a Second Itaewon Tragedy... Police Major Reform TF Holds First Full Meeting

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Police Agency building. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The police have begun discussions to improve the overall system issues revealed in the Itaewon tragedy.

On the morning of the 18th, the National Police Agency held the 1st 'Police Grand Innovation TF General Meeting' at its Seodaemun-gu office in Seoul, chaired by co-chairs Changwon Lee, president of Hansung University, and Hyunbae Jo, former head of the Korea Coast Guard. The Police Grand Innovation TF was expanded on the 9th by absorbing the 'Crowd Management Countermeasure Establishment TF' and the '112 Response System Improvement TF,' which were formed after the Itaewon tragedy, and adding the 'Organizational Culture Innovation and Job Competency Enhancement Team.' At this first general meeting, the police analyzed the issues with police actions revealed during the tragedy and discussed innovation tasks.

The TF consists of three teams: ▲Crowd Management Improvement Team ▲Situation Management and Reporting System Reform Team ▲Organizational Culture Innovation and Job Competency Enhancement Team, with participation from 10 civilian experts, 10 field police advisory members, and representatives from the National Police Workplace Council. Based on the problems identified through internal meetings of each team, the TF aims to innovate the police system, derive reform plans that can be implemented on the ground, and propose directions for fundamental problem-solving.

By this day, the TF has produced about 20 reform proposals. Among these, tasks requiring immediate implementation will be promoted as soon as opinions from the committee members are collected. For tasks requiring further review, the TF plans to work with the members to devise execution plans. Additionally, to reflect public opinion, since the 14th, the TF has opened and operated a suggestion window called 'Wishes for the Police Grand Innovation TF' on the National Police Agency’s website and internal network.

Chairman Lee said in his opening remarks at the general meeting, "We will find ways for the police to be reborn as an organization that proactively takes the lead at emergency scenes such as disasters to preemptively protect the lives and safety of the people." National Police Agency Commissioner Hee-geun Yoon stated, "The innovation plans discussed in the Police Grand Innovation TF will also be discussed in the 'Pan-Government National Safety System Reform TF' if necessary, to fundamentally innovate the police."

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