It has been about 60 years since we began a discussion of the institutionalization of the municipal police system in Korea. But the argument is facing rough going, for as stake-holders in the system, many related organizations share interests. The rel...
It has been about 60 years since we began a discussion of the institutionalization of the municipal police system in Korea. But the argument is facing rough going, for as stake-holders in the system, many related organizations share interests. The related organizations involved in a discussion over the municipal police system include President(or candidate), the National Assembly, the National Police Agency, local autonomous entities and provincial assembly, civic groups and the academic world. The concept of "municipal police system" that these organizations aim at the introduction, however, is different respectively, that makes their mutual agreement difficult even though they recognize the necessity of the system. In the vortex of debates, as the president candidate 'Moo hyeon Noh' promised the electorate during his campaign that he'd build an municipal police system and was elected as the president it gained the momentum in the propulsion by making laws of municipal police system as an effort to boost decentralization of power under the taking by Presidential Committee on Government Innovation & Decentralization, an institute directly responsible to the President. The bill arranged by Municipal Police Promotion Committee and administrative work groups was submitted to the Assembly in the year-end in 2005, however, 17th National Assembly was declining without proper discussion.
But, the political, social and administrative environment facing to the Korean policing system in recent year is changing with a high speed. As the aspiration for democracy and self-rule has been increased since 1990's, the conception of police administration has recognized not as the symbol of national governmental authority but as a service delivery organization for residents. Especially, this was emphasized with the beginning of a self-local government in 1995.
After that time, there were lots of discussions about the introduction of new police-system which is suitable for political, economical, social, historical and geographical conditions in these days. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to drawn up a new scheme as alternative idea for the improvement of the police-system that is suitable for the real Korean political and administrative situations.
Through the real introduction of self-governing police system, we need new face as a progressive democratic police and service police from now on. in addition, we must compensate for the lack of security power according to the dispersion of police power. The local government establish the real, suitable institutional equipment and continuous effort for the execution of the self-governing police.
The rationale to introduce the municipal police system is to transform the previous police system into the new public security system in which the opinions of the community members are reflected based on the decentralization system. For the security of a local community, the security network for the local community should be established to prevent the crimes more effectively and to seek more efficient public security system under the shared sense of responsibility by the community residents, police, resident organizations, and so on. The police are inseparable from the local community and should receive the cooperation and support as well as the trust from the community residents in order to be reborn as the municipal police rooted on the local community. Therefore, the discussion about the municipal police system is timely at the moment when the police activity of the local community is being emphasized, which also leads to the heightened quality of life of the community residents as well as their public welfare and security. The re-born municipal police system centered on the community residents’ life will make it possible for the residents of the local community to meet the familiar police who protect their safety living together with them and for the local governing organizations to increase their overall administrative power including police administration and to provide better security service through the competitions with the national police as well as with other municipal police. While these positive effects may bring about safer life from crimes and heightened life quality for the residents, some negative effects such as the broadening of crimes and the role conflicts between the municipal police and the national police may be expected as well.
To ensure the success of an autonomous police system, the promotion of the following is needed:
It is necessary to introduce an autonomous police system to large local governments that takes into consideration financial aspects. If the integration of administrative districts is coordinated, the introduction of a municipal/district/county autonomous police system would also be recommended. In terms of the type of organization, an autonomous police system should be under a municipal or provincial governor’s direct control. A close relationship with related organizations should be maintained in terms of supply of manpower. Besides the expansion of this kind of force, it is important to build an intimate and cooperative relationship with the local society. It is important to clearly clarify police duties. National police should focus on those issues associated with response to crime, establishment of law & order and ensuring a social safety network. On the contrary, the duties of local police should be limited to customized security services for the locals, support of the fulfillment of official duties and other special judicial police duties. A cooperative and complementary relationship with national police should be established. Local police should set up and maintain an equal cooperative relationship with national police to efficiently manage and operate the police force. For this, it is necessary to make mandatory those details including mutual support, joint use of facilities, and establishment of a communication network, etc.. The criminal investigation right independent from the national police is required to be established within a municipal police. Furthermore, there should be the building of the system which enables national police to control local police in case of national emergency situation. But the control of the side of national police against that of local police should keep within bounds to a minimum, if necessary, so that the local police's ability to self-control should be guaranteed to a maximum. Taking the degree of low in viable economy into consideration, government is required to give financial support to the local police by making financial-aid law, of course, on the basis of local tax income.
In conclusion, we should put the municipal police system which meet the needs of democratization and efficiency under long argument into practice as soon as possible for Korea's takeoff. The groups sharing interests over the introduction of municipal police must control their desire to look after their own interests largely. these attitudes are appropriate for Korea's reality and development. Now it is time to terminate arguments and put into an action.