Korean National Police Agency launches citizen-led reform group

The Korean National Police Agency has launched the ‘Citizen Participation and Field-Oriented Police Reform Group’ to spearhead internal reforms through public engagement. Moving away from previous models of self-directed reform, the new initiative aims to center reform efforts around public opinion during a ‘100-day police reform’ period.

Key components of the plan include holding nationwide public hearings from September to November and establishing an online platform to collect feedback. The agency will also introduce a ‘Police Policy Citizen Jury’ system, where members—including representatives from vulnerable social groups and crime victims—will evaluate the appropriateness of police responses to significant issues.

To address internal inefficiencies, a task force composed of field officers will be formed to identify operational blind spots and irregularities, with rewards offered for high-quality suggestions. The reform group, led by the head of the Autonomous Police Promotion Team, will coordinate with external bodies such as the Prime Minister’s Office and the Democratic Party to implement practical reform tasks. A final report on the progress and future plans is expected in mid-December.