Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, "Protecting the Peaceful Daily Lives of the People is the Top Priority for the New Year"

On the 29th, Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun of the National Police Agency stated in his New Year's address, "We have set 'Protecting the Peaceful Daily Lives of the People' as the top priority goal for 2024 and will focus the police's capabilities on achieving this." He added, "We must confidently respond to the call of the people who expect the police to play their role in the face of threats that invade daily life."

Reflecting on the past year, Commissioner Yoon said, "There were unexpected crises and heartbreaking moments of hardship," but also noted, "As a result of faithfully fulfilling the police's fundamental duties of ensuring public safety and establishing law and order, we have achieved meaningful outcomes." This year, the police underwent groundbreaking changes such as future policing initiatives, major reforms in education, basic salary increases to the level of public security officers, and the introduction of a multiple-rank system.

Commissioner Yoon emphasized that it is still too early to be satisfied and complacent, mentioning key projects for the upcoming year. He said, "Above all, we must strive to secure unwavering public safety from crimes and accidents," and stressed, "Enhancing prevention and response capabilities against crimes that infiltrate everyday surroundings, allowing citizens to live their daily lives with peace of mind, is the foundation and core of community policing."

He continued, "Centered on the newly established Crime Prevention and Response Bureau, we will redesign overall crime prevention policies and operate available resources such as community police, mobile patrol units, and criminal investigation mobile units efficiently and organically, so that the public can tangibly feel the presence of the police by taking one step closer." He urged, "We must continue efforts to eradicate malicious crimes such as rental fraud and drug-related offenses with the determination to root out crime at its source, while also paying close attention to blocking the evolution of crime into new forms."

Additionally, he stated, "For crimes targeting vulnerable groups such as stalking and domestic violence, we must further advance prevention and protection systems, and respond more meticulously to school violence to ensure that not a single youth loses their precious dreams." He added, "Learning from experiences with disasters and calamities, establishing a flawless response system is also an indispensable task that must not be overlooked."

He also called for measures against habitual illegal acts that disrupt the peace of daily life. Commissioner Yoon said, "While thoroughly protecting what is legal, we must strictly respond to illegal acts under the fundamental principle of harmonizing various basic rights to build a democratic rule-of-law state. Everyone must pool wisdom to achieve this." He promised, "We will focus our investigative capabilities to ensure that the absurdities and corruption in our society, which undermine the values of fairness and common sense, no longer shatter the hopes of the people."

In particular, he noted, "This year is marked by the national event of the 22nd National Assembly elections," and said, "As this is the first general election held since the establishment of the police's responsible investigation system, it should serve as an opportunity to firmly imprint our investigative capabilities on the public." He added, "We must not be negligent in protecting the order of liberal democracy from increasing security threats," and stated, "As we enter the inaugural year of a police-centered security investigation system, we will fundamentally innovate security investigation capabilities and transform any 'doubtful views' into 'confidence in the police'."

Commissioner Yoon also reiterated the importance of strengthening on-site response capabilities, which he has continuously emphasized. He explained, "We have set 'Revitalization of On-Site Police' as the top organizational priority this year and will focus our efforts accordingly." He added, "By exploring ways to enhance the capabilities of on-site police, instilling pride as field experts, and providing adequate incentives, we will inject vitality and dynamism into the field."

Furthermore, Commissioner Yoon promised to stabilize the newly reorganized organizational structure. He said, "As this is the first year the police have adopted a new organizational system and officially launched, we must pay special attention to ensuring that newly established units such as the Mobile Patrol Unit, Criminal Investigation Mobile Unit, and Metropolitan Intelligence Team can fully realize their purposes and objectives." He emphasized, "To minimize initial difficulties and maximize operational outcomes, we will organize cooperative systems between departments following the reorganization and seek optimal solutions tailored to local circumstances."

Commissioner Yoon also stressed the need to continue efforts to lay the foundation for sustainable development. He said, "Since declaring the full-scale era of future policing, the foundation for scientific policing has been steadily built through increased investment in policing R&D, and tangible results such as 'Visible 112' and 'Precision Emergency Location' that can be immediately applied in the field are changing public perceptions of the police." He added, "We must steadfastly pursue future policing and major educational reforms to produce results that everyone can feel."

Finally, Commissioner Yoon pledged, "I will personally take the lead in preserving the pride of the police and enhancing the dignity of the uniform." He promised, "In addition to improving equipment, uniforms, and facilities, and expanding the organizational operation base such as manpower, ranks, and salaries, I consider tasks directly related to the self-esteem of colleagues, such as the burial of long-serving officers in the National Cemetery, as my calling and will devote my utmost effort until the end."

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