[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The police are expanding the mixed-gender mobile units from the existing single unit to 15 units.
On the 27th, the National Police Agency announced that through the regular personnel reshuffle next month, it plans to add 14 mixed-gender mobile units to seven metropolitan and provincial police agencies, including Seoul and Busan, where a pilot operation is currently underway at the Gyeongnam Police Agency. Specifically, eight units will be established in Seoul, and one unit each in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Southern Gyeonggi, Northern Gyeonggi, and Sejong. Among these, eight commanders of the Seoul mixed-gender mobile units will be selected by the National Police Agency based on capability, regardless of gender. The expanded mixed-gender mobile units will perform the same duties without distinction between male and female officers.
Previously, since August last year, the police began pilot operations of mixed-gender mobile units by adding one female police officer squad to the Gyeongnam 2nd Mobile Unit (composed of three male police officer squads). From November last year, female mobile officers were assigned 1 to 2 per team across all 16 teams of the Gyeongnam 2nd Mobile Unit without distinguishing between male and female officers by squad. As a result, the police analyzed that immediate response was possible regardless of the gender of assembly participants, which accelerated on-site response speed. Additionally, during public safety support, joint duty by male and female officers expanded the scope of mission execution, enhancing on-site response capabilities.
Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "The mixed-gender mobile units will eliminate gender-based job segregation within the National Police Agency and serve as a catalyst for the full implementation of integrated recruitment of male and female police officers in 2026." He added, "We will make policy efforts to ensure that no blind spots occur in the operation of mixed-gender mobile units through initiatives such as expanding basic facilities."
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