Acting police chief orders review of personnel system to retain skilled investigators

Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency. [Yonhap]
Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency. [Yonhap]

The Korean National Police Agency announced Sunday that it will launch a dedicated police reform task force next week, to be headed by an officer at the senior superintendent general level.

The agency said in an afternoon notice that the move was intended "to keep the promise of fundamentally reforming the police," adding that it would explain the task force's specific structure and direction at the time of its launch. The agency had earlier announced plans to establish the "Police Reform Promotion Team" to review not only the organization and its systems but also frontline operations and organizational culture from the ground up.

Acting Commissioner General Kim Jong-cheol spent two days beginning Saturday receiving briefings from senior agency officials and reviewing key pending issues.

Kim directed officials to share details of the revised Code of Criminal Procedure with all staff and to conduct thorough training throughout September, saying it was "important that frontline officers clearly understand the changed investigative procedures and carry them out in the field."

He also ordered a review of personnel policies, saying that "for the reformed criminal justice system to take root, the frontline is what matters," and calling for measures to ensure that "capable and dedicated personnel do not leave investigative units but continue to serve."

"The police organization can only change if the frontline changes — and only then will the public feel that change," Kim said.

He went on to say that officials must continuously check for systemic problems in each area of work and address any gaps in the chain of command and supervision. He also urged them to "eliminate unnecessary tasks and demands for unreasonable performance targets in the field, and actively support officers so they can focus on their work."

In response to a report that traffic fatalities as of August had fallen by about 100 compared with the same period last year, Kim said reducing traffic deaths was "a prime example of police saving lives" and directed officers to redouble efforts in areas including traffic-law compliance, enforcement and infrastructure improvement.

"The most important role of the police is protecting the lives of the public," Kim said, urging active communication with frontline units on initiatives being pursued at the agency level.

The agency said Kim particularly stressed that police activities should not stop at enforcement and investigation but must be organically linked to crime prevention, victim protection and follow-up support.

The agency said the briefings were "exceptionally held over the weekend to ensure seamless preparation for the implementation of the revised Code of Criminal Procedure and to push forward the fundamental reform of the police with urgency."


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