Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong's "Untact Inauguration Ceremony"... "We Will Make the Safest Country and a Police Force Respected and Loved" (Comprehensive)

Digital Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Mentioned
"We Will Focus on Preventive Police Activities"
Strong Commitment to Police Reform
Community Police Communication and Protection of Socially Vulnerable Groups

Kim Chang-ryong, the new Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, is attending the inauguration ceremony held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 24th, participating in the national ceremony. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Kim Chang-ryong officially took office as the new Commissioner General of the National Police Agency on the 24th. He pledged police activities that realize the values of safety and fairness under the slogan "The safest country, a police force respected and loved." In particular, he defined police reform as the "spirit of the times" and expressed a strong determination to unite the will of 150,000 police officers.

In his inaugural speech announced that day, Commissioner Kim said, "The Korean police are once again facing a turning point for change and leap forward," adding, "We must always fulfill the police's duties from the people's perspective and continuously focus on reform to create 'the safest country' and become 'a police force respected and loved.'"

Commissioner Kim continued, "The starting point lies in protecting the value of 'safety,' the fundamental mission of the police," and added, "As a 'reliable neighborhood police' closest to the people, we must create an environment where people can feel safe from various crimes and accidents around their daily lives." He particularly mentioned that digital sex crimes and child abuse, which recently sparked public outrage, occurred in safety blind spots and emphasized focusing on 'preventive police activities.'

Commissioner Kim especially defined police reform as the "spirit of the times and the solemn command of the people," stating, "Until the fruits of reform that the people can feel are achieved, we must unite with one heart, accelerate the pace, and deepen the efforts," showing his continuous commitment to the reform.

Commissioner Kim also presented four ideals of the police: ▲ a world where safety is everyday, and fairness is common sense ▲ strict yet warm law enforcement ▲ a police organization that prioritizes human rights ▲ proud and trustworthy neighborhood police officers. He said, "This is the image of the police we must always aim for and create, and the direction of reform," adding, "We will become neighborhood police, responsible police, and empathetic police who look only to the people, and run forward vigorously without wavering or hesitation."

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is writing in the guestbook after paying respects at the National Cemetery. / Photo by National Police Agency

Commissioner Kim began his official schedule that morning by paying respects at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, and the Police Memorial Park in Jung-gu. Afterwards, at 11:10 a.m., he held an inauguration ceremony at the Migeun-dong office in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, a minimized 'untact' method was adopted. The ceremony was held in a conference room instead of an auditorium, and instead, it was arranged as a communication event with 10 frontline police officers.

After the inauguration ceremony, Commissioner Kim is scheduled to visit the Yongjung Police Substation of Yongsan Police Station and the Yongsan District Integrated Support Center for Families in Crisis in the afternoon as his first field schedule. This event reflects his intention to strengthen communication with local police at the forefront of public safety and actively protect socially vulnerable groups.

Commissioner Kim was born in 1964 in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam. He graduated from the Korean National Police University (4th class) and was appointed as a police lieutenant in 1988. He gained attention for working with President Moon Jae-in, who was then the Senior Secretary for Civil Society, while serving as an administrative officer in the Security Secretary's Office under the Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. His overseas assignments include serving as a consul at the Consulate General in S?o Paulo, Brazil, and as an attach? in Washington, D.C., which is notable. Immediately before his appointment as Commissioner General, he served as the Chief of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency.