"Top-tier Police Promise Safe Daily Life" Major Overhaul of Police Education and Training

National Police Agency Announces 'Vision for Innovation in Police Education and Training'
Specialization of Educational Institutions and Utilization of Advanced Technology
Establishment of Talent Development Organization and System Reforms

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, is speaking at the Police Education and Training Innovation Vision Declaration Ceremony held at the National Police Agency building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 18th.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police are undertaking a major overhaul of police officer education and training with the goal of cultivating 'first-class police.'

On the morning of the 18th, the National Police Agency declared the vision "First-class police promise a safe daily life" at the 'Police Education and Training Innovation Vision' presentation held at the police headquarters, and decided to pursue three major strategies and key tasks.

First, the four police education institutions directly under the National Police Agency?Korean National Police University, Police Human Resources Development Institute, Central Police Academy, and Police Investigation Training Institute?will be specialized and differentiated. The Korean National Police University will expand its scope to serve as a 'think tank' for future security and research & development (R&D) in security policy, while the Police Human Resources Development Institute will be reborn as the top-level job training institution that cultivates and certifies security experts.

Additionally, the Central Police Academy aims to normalize and expand new police officer education and strengthen practical simulation training to cultivate elite police officers who can be trusted and relied upon at the front lines. The Police Investigation Training Institute plans to create a research environment and expand infrastructure for investigative techniques to enhance investigative capabilities.

The plan also includes the advancement of police education using 4th industrial revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and metaverse. The police intend to invest 24 billion KRW over five years starting this year to establish the world's first extended reality (XR)-based simulation training system. This is expected to enable training and practice that closely resemble real field situations. They are also preparing to build a non-face-to-face education platform where police officers can share diverse knowledge through AI tutors and the metaverse.

To establish a sustainable talent development system, organizational structure and systems will also be improved. The National Police Agency plans to create a Talent Policy Officer position, and city/provincial police agencies will establish personnel education divisions. They will introduce a 'position certification system' that grants job assignment eligibility to police officers who pass designated education, training, and evaluation, as well as a 'train first, assign later' system.

The police explained that to prepare this vision, they formed an internal dedicated team and an advisory committee composed of external human resource development (HRD) experts to diagnose the police education and training system and develop concrete tasks. Im Cheol-il, Chair of the Education and Training Innovation Advisory Committee, said, "We prepared this plan after in-depth review to drastically improve police education and training," adding, "We will continuously and responsibly monitor all aspects of the plan’s implementation after the announcement."

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, emphasized, "Through innovation in police education and training, we will cultivate first-class police officers who are recognized by the public for both competence and character, and swiftly promote 'police reform that the public can feel.' We will move toward becoming the safest country and a police force respected and loved by the people."