Site Manager's 'Self-Diagnosis System'... Stir Within Police Ranks

Police Union Opposes Notice on Use of Audit and Inspection Data
"Police Servitude Documents Created Digitally"
Anonymous Boards Also Voice Support for the System

The police are planning to implement a 'self-diagnosis system' next month that requires on-site managers, including police station chiefs, to self-assess their duties.

The aim is to establish a system that allows managers to verify whether they are performing their duties properly, thereby improving the work atmosphere. However, since it has been announced that the data may be used for future audits or inspections, concerns have been raised that this might be intended to tighten surveillance and control over on-site police officers.

The police flag of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency is fluttering in the wind. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Managers Self-Diagnose Duty Management... Used as Inspection Data

The National Police Agency recently announced in a work report that it will implement the 'Self-Diagnosis Operation for On-Site Police Station Managers' next month. The main point of this system is that police station chiefs and department, section, and team leaders at police stations will periodically conduct self-diagnosis through survey responses on items they need to check and manage. The self-diagnosis survey items are expected to include ▲112 call handling ▲investigation case processing ▲major situation reporting and emergency preparedness ▲implementation of key directives ▲education and training ▲inspection of subordinate managers' duty management, among others.

The National Police Agency plans to computerize the self-diagnosis form for police station chiefs and manage it together with each provincial police agency. Other managers such as department heads or section/team leaders at each police station will fill out the self-diagnosis forms manually, and their superiors will check them daily. The agency envisions using these self-diagnosis forms as various audit materials and, if necessary, as reference materials for inspections and personnel matters in the future.

A National Police Agency official said, "It is true that until now, police have been very strict with field officers but relatively lenient with managers. The self-diagnosis system aims to support police station chiefs and department, section, and team leaders in fulfilling their roles as managers, while normalizing a system that manages whether they are properly performing their roles through the original command and supervision structure."

Police Union Opposes, Calling It a Revival of Inspection Cards from the Japanese Colonial Era

The National Police Workplace Council, a police union, has expressed concerns about this self-diagnosis system. Baek Rok-young, the council's secretary-general, posted on the internal network, opposing it by saying, "It is like the inspection cards used to monitor independence fighters during the Japanese colonial period are being revived."

Baek said, "The 'inspection card' was created to monitor and suppress Koreans during the Japanese colonial period," and added, "Although this bad practice continued after liberation, former National Police Agency Commissioner Lee Moo-young burned all the inspection cards in 1999, saying to forget all past mistakes." He then claimed, "This (self-diagnosis system) is a revival of the inspection cards from over 20 years ago, and the police slave documents are newly reborn in digital form."

He also said, "Inspection cards collected data on the private lives and every move of on-site police officers, gathering information through inspection functions and later using it as personnel data," and added, "The self-diagnosis for duty management can only be seen as a means to thoroughly monitor and control on-site police officers."

Mingwan-gi, President of the National Police Workplace Council / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

National Police Agency: "Completely Natural and Legitimate for Organizational Operation"

In response to the criticism on the internal network, the head of the department in charge stepped in to clarify. Lee Young-cheol, Superintendent of the National Police Agency's Inspection Division, explained in a post on the internal network, "The criticism that this is a revival of the 'inspection card' is very different from the purpose of introducing the self-diagnosis system," and clarified, "Checking work content through a checklist method is a common practice used by police agencies worldwide."

Superintendent Lee also said, "I don't know if the misunderstanding arises because the self-diagnosis content can be used as various audit materials and, if necessary, as inspection investigation data or personnel reference materials," but added, "The problem lies in the misuse or excessive abuse of the system, not the management system itself, which is completely natural and entirely legitimate for organizational operation."

He further requested, "Since this is essential to establish a duty management system based on basics and principles, I ask for your broad cooperation," and added, "We will actively listen to reasonable criticisms and suggestions and work to supplement and improve the system."

Mixed Opinions Among Frontline Police... Some Criticize the Police Union

Despite the National Police Agency's explanation, dissatisfaction remains. One police officer commented, "Why do they keep creating strange things that cause worry among staff? Please just do your job well." Another officer pointed out, "It is unfortunate that the audit department is managing this system. It inevitably reminds me of the 'inspection omnipotence' we cruelly created ourselves in the past," and added, "It would be better to build consensus through prior explanation before implementing it."

On the other hand, there are internal voices cautioning against such criticism. On the National Police Agency's board on 'Blind,' an anonymous workplace community used by police officers, a post stated, "Isn't this just telling police station chiefs to systematically manage department heads and section chiefs in local police? It's a natural work order, so I don't understand why some want to bring up inspections just to avoid work." Another comment criticized, "It's sad that our organization tolerates people who want to work without any control while getting paid. Are you saying that letting people slack off is being a just and humane boss?"

There are also voices targeting the police union. One officer said, "When the General Affairs Director posts something, the union members get all riled up and comment," and added, "Even when the Inspection Division officer states facts, they just complain." Another officer criticized, "The union is digging its own grave," and said, "They should speak reasonably."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.