By Kang Seung-woo
The presidential office, the government and the ruling party agreed Thursday to test-run an autonomous police system in five jurisdictions and regions within this year, before putting it into full operation nationwide by 2021.
Under the plan, 43,000 police officers will be placed under the direct jurisdiction of police agencies with regard to duties related to traffic law enforcement and the investigation of sex crimes, and school and domestic violence.
The current National Police Agency will be in charge of matters related to security, intelligence gathering and foreign affairs, counterterrorism and serious crimes such as murder.
The local police agencies will be placed under the direct control of local governments, which means mayors and governors will have the authority to appoint autonomous police chiefs.
"The municipal police system will be test-operated in Seoul, Sejong and Jeju Island and two more areas that are being discussed," said Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, the chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in a briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul after the three-way meeting.
Cho Kuk, the presidential secretary for civil affairs, and Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum also attended the discussion.
The system was one of President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledges in the 2017 election.
The presidential office, the government and the ruling party agreed Thursday to test-run an autonomous police system in five jurisdictions and regions within this year, before putting it into full operation nationwide by 2021.
Under the plan, 43,000 police officers will be placed under the direct jurisdiction of police agencies with regard to duties related to traffic law enforcement and the investigation of sex crimes, and school and domestic violence.
The current National Police Agency will be in charge of matters related to security, intelligence gathering and foreign affairs, counterterrorism and serious crimes such as murder.
The local police agencies will be placed under the direct control of local governments, which means mayors and governors will have the authority to appoint autonomous police chiefs.
"The municipal police system will be test-operated in Seoul, Sejong and Jeju Island and two more areas that are being discussed," said Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, the chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, in a briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul after the three-way meeting.
Cho Kuk, the presidential secretary for civil affairs, and Interior and Safety Minister Kim Boo-kyum also attended the discussion.
The system was one of President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledges in the 2017 election.
