Acting Police Chief: "Police Face Important Test Amid Criminal Justice System Transition"

As the criminal justice system undergoes a transition, the acting chief of the Korean National Police Agency voiced a commitment to putting responsibility before authority, serving the public with humility, and focusing on the police's fundamental duty to protect people's lives and safety.

Kim Jongcheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, delivers a welcoming address at a ceremony marking the 81st Police Day at the agency's headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 21st. Yonhap News Agency

Kim Jongcheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said at a ceremony marking the 81st Police Day on October 21, "The police are once again facing an important test," adding, "With the transition to a new criminal justice system for the first time in 78 years, the role and responsibilities of the police have become more weighty than ever." He continued, "We will serve the public with humility, keeping in mind the weight of our responsibilities before our authority," and said, "We will not forget that every case presents a desperate turning point that can determine the lives of those involved."

Kim said, "South Korea has grown into a public safety powerhouse that stands comparison with any country in the world, effectively responding to crimes that threaten people's livelihoods and achieving significant reductions in victimization." He added, "At the same time, the police take seriously the fact that a series of recent violent crimes has heightened public anxiety."

He continued, "We will protect the public's rights and interests through fair, human-rights-respecting investigations, and establish systems for internal reform and external oversight." He added, "We will boldly cast off outdated practices and pursue reform from the public's perspective."

Kim reiterated, "I extend my gratitude and respect to my fellow police officers who are fulfilling their duties even at this very moment." He added, "We will remember the noble sacrifice of police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty for the public, and do our utmost to build a just society in which law and order prevail."

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