Police expand public safety information disclosures, seek English name change: “From wielding state power to standing by the people”

[Financial News] Police will build a system that allows people to check the progress of cases they have reported at any time and will expand the disclosure of key public safety information. They are also pursuing a change to the police agency’s English name to reflect a move toward prioritizing public safety and rights.
The Korean National Police Agency said on the 19th that it would pursue measures to strengthen people-centered police services, including these initiatives.
Kim Jong-cheol, acting chief of the Korean National Police Agency, called at a weekly work meeting that day for the active development and implementation of policies to strengthen the police’s democratic accountability and public trust.
Kim said, “We will work even harder to restore public trust by delivering people-centered police services that inform people first and help them by their side.”
As a first step, police plan to build a system that allows people to access and check the handling process for cases they have reported at any time. They also plan to expand the scope of notifications about case progress to increase transparency in police activities.
They will also strengthen the provision of information to crime victims. Victims’ rights have previously been explained during interviews, but the system will be revamped so that necessary information—including victims’ various rights and ways to connect them with protection and support—can be provided repeatedly.
Information on key public safety indicators and police activities will also be disclosed. Statistics related to public safety, including the number of 112 calls and traffic accidents, as well as traffic disruptions caused by rallies and events, will be posted at police stations and on websites so that the public can easily understand the public safety situation.
In addition, to mark Police Week this week, the Korean National Police Agency is pursuing a change to its English name from “Korea National Police Agency” to “Korea National Police Service.” Its Korean name, “Korean National Police Agency,” will remain unchanged.
The aim is for the police to move beyond being an institution that exercises state power and become an organization that prioritizes public safety and rights. The Korean National Police Agency cited domestic institutions such as the National Tax Service and the National Intelligence Service, as well as the UK’s London Metropolitan Police Service and Canada’s Toronto Police Service, as examples.
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter