Police Bureau Abolished After Three Years... Abolition Completed as Promised by Yoon

President Yoon Abolishes Police Bureau for Political Neutrality
Autonomous Police Affairs Transferred to Department of Local Autonomy
Police Officers Welcome Move as "Long Overdue but Fortunate"

The Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, established by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has been abolished after three years. Within the police force, there is a welcoming atmosphere, with many saying, "It's late, but it's a relief."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 26th, the amendment to the "Organization of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Its Affiliated Agencies," which includes the abolition of the Police Bureau, was promulgated and implemented on this day, completing the process of abolishing the bureau. With the procedure finalized, the signboard at the Police Bureau office located in the Government Seoul Building was taken down at around 10:30 a.m. on the same day.

On the 26th, an official is removing a signboard at the Police Bureau office inside the Government Seoul Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

The amendment includes a reduction of 13 positions: one Senior Superintendent General, one Senior Superintendent, one Senior Superintendent or Grade 4 official, four Superintendents, one Inspector, four Lieutenants, and one Grade 3 or 4 official or Senior Superintendent. In addition, personnel-related authorities, such as the command and supervision of the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency and the recommendation for the appointment of members of the National Police Commission, which had been assigned to the Police Bureau, have been removed. Support work for autonomous police affairs, which was previously under the Police Bureau, will be transferred to the Local Autonomy and Decentralization Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Previously, in August 2022, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration established the Police Bureau to keep the police in check after their powers increased due to the removal of the prosecution's investigative authority. As the Minister of the Interior and Safety gained the authority to appoint senior police officers at the rank of Senior Superintendent and above, there was criticism that the independence of the police could be compromised. There was also internal resistance within the police, including a "National Police Chiefs' Meeting" opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau.

President Yoon promptly pursued the abolition of the Police Bureau as promised in his campaign. The process was completed in just three weeks, from the pre-announcement of the amendment on the 3rd to its promulgation on this day. Going forward, the government plans to achieve the goals of ensuring the political neutrality of the police and democratic oversight through the substantial empowerment of the National Police Commission and the full implementation of the autonomous police system.

Within the police, the response to the abolition of the Police Bureau has been positive. A police officer at the rank of Superintendent said, "At the time the Police Bureau was launched, there were significant concerns that political influence could affect personnel decisions, potentially undermining political neutrality. Many within the force see this abolition as a relief, even if it is late." Regarding the autonomous police system, another police officer, who requested anonymity, said, "If properly established, it has the advantage of providing tailored policing services, but in reality, significant disparities in budgets and personnel between regions could worsen the imbalance in policing services. The system design must fully reflect these realities to ensure that the fundamental goal of public safety is not compromised."

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