The 9th National Police Agency Human Rights Committee Launched... Professor Jang Young-su of Korea University Appointed as Chairman

A Total of 13 Members Including 12 External Committee Members and 1 Ex Officio Member

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The National Police Agency announced on the 9th that it has appointed Professor Jang Young-su (62) of Korea University Law School as the chairman of the 9th National Police Agency Human Rights Committee.

The Police Human Rights Committee is an advisory body established in 2005 that plays roles such as providing human rights impact assessment advice during the enactment and revision of police-related laws and the formulation of policies and plans, suggesting directions for improving human rights policies, and reviewing the validity of non-acceptance of recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission.

The 9th Police Human Rights Committee, composed of 12 external members and 1 ex officio member, will be active for the next two years.

Chairman Jang Young-su has been a professor at Korea University’s Department of Law since 1994. He served as an advisory member for police assemblies and demonstrations for two years starting in 2015 and has also been active as a police regulatory review committee member since 2014, earning recognition for his comprehensive understanding of police work.

At the appointment ceremony, Chairman Jang said, "I will strive to ensure that the committee’s activities reflect democratic control and the value of human rights from the public’s perspective so that the police can be reborn as a human rights police force that more robustly protects the rights of the people."

In addition, the committee is composed of 12 external members: Professor Park Jong-su (52) of Korea University Law School, Professor Kim So-yeon (39) of Jeonbuk National University Law School, Professor Lee Hee-hoon (48) of Sunmoon University Department of Law and Police Science, Professor Ha Jeong-hee (50) of Hanyang University Graduate School, Attorney Song Jin-wook (47) of Law Firm Taepyungyang, Attorney Lee Hee-sook (43) of Dongcheon Foundation, Attorney Park Sung-bae (41) of Law Firm Hyemyeong, Editorial Writer Lee Jin-young (54) of Dong-A Ilbo, Director Yoo Dong-yeol (64) of the Freedom Democracy Institute, Counseling and Education Center Director Jeong Jin-hee (57) of the Youth Hope Foundation, and Senior Researcher Hwang Jeong-im (54) of the Korean Women’s Development Institute, along with one ex officio member, Inspector Kim Dong-seok (49) of the National Police Agency, totaling 13 members with a two-year term.

Previously, the 8th Police Human Rights Committee was dissolved after all civilian members resigned about three months before the end of their term in October.

At that time, civilian members reportedly felt limitations in the status and authority of the advisory body. They had argued in June that the Police Human Rights Committee should be granted functions such as deliberation and resolution, and human rights investigation functions rather than just recommendations, but these demands were not accepted.