"Lee Jaemyung's Pledge" Police Bureau Abolished... Process Completed

Established Under Yoon Sukyeol Administration
Set to Be Abolished After Three Years

The process of abolishing the Police Bureau, a key campaign pledge of President Lee Jaemyung, will be completed on August 26.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on August 25, the revised ordinance titled "Regulations on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Its Affiliated Agencies," which includes the abolition of the Police Bureau, was approved at a Cabinet meeting on August 18 and will be promulgated and take effect on August 26. The abolition process has been finalized just three weeks after the legislative notice of the revised ordinance was issued on August 4.

The office of the Police Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety set up within the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2022.08.02 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was established in August 2022 under the initiative of the Yoon Sukyeol administration. The Minister of the Interior and Safety was given the authority to appoint senior police officers at the rank of superintendent and above, as well as direct command and supervision. The establishment and operation of the bureau faced significant controversy, including internal opposition from within the police force.

President Lee and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung have demonstrated a strong commitment to abolishing the Police Bureau since the beginning of their terms. The ministry explained that, as public consensus had formed around the abolition, the process was expedited to ensure the independence and political neutrality of the police, even before the finalization of the new government reorganization plan and key policy tasks.

After the abolition of the Police Bureau, major responsibilities such as supporting local police will be transferred back to the departments that oversaw them prior to the bureau's establishment.

Minister Yoon stated, "By swiftly completing the process to abolish the Police Bureau, which I have pursued since taking office to fulfill our promise to the public, we have taken another step toward normalizing the police organization. We will continue our efforts to guarantee the independence of the police and to realize democratic oversight. In line with the philosophy of the people-sovereign government, we will provide full support so that the police can be reborn as 'the people's police,' dedicated solely to the safety and happiness of citizens."

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