Lee Sundong, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Autonomous Police Committee, was recently elected as the 3rd Chairman of the National Association of Autonomous Police Committee Chairpersons at the 18th regular meeting held in Busan. His term begins on July 1 and lasts for one year.
The Association of Autonomous Police Chairpersons was launched in August 2021 to promote exchange and cooperation among city and provincial autonomous police committees and to jointly respond to issues related to the autonomous police system. In May, the legal basis for its establishment was also provided under Article 20 of the "Regulations on Autonomous Police Affairs and the Organization and Operation of City and Provincial Autonomous Police Committees."
The autonomous police system was fully implemented nationwide in July 2021, and next year, a pilot project for the dual system separating the national police and autonomous police will be conducted in Sejong, Gangwon, Jeju, and other regions.
Additionally, as the second term of the autonomous police committees is about to begin, the role of the Association of City and Provincial Autonomous Police Chairpersons, which has accumulated two years of experience, is more important than ever to improve the current system and prepare concrete plans for the implementation of the dual autonomous police system.
Chairman Lee Sundong said, “As the chairman representing the city and provincial autonomous police chairpersons, I feel a heavy responsibility. With just over a year left in my term as the first autonomous police chairman of Gyeongbuk Province, it is necessary to set a clear direction.”
He added, “I have been running around in all directions trying to firmly establish the autonomous police system, but I have encountered many institutional limitations. During the remaining period, I will faithfully represent the voices of the autonomous police chairpersons from all 18 cities and provinces to the government and the National Assembly to ensure the autonomous police system progresses according to its purpose. I also plan to carefully address major issues such as expanding the pilot areas for the dual autonomous police system to four regions including Jeonbuk, and increasing the number of police officers assigned to autonomous police committees.”
Chairman Lee graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of English Literature and majored in law at the same university’s graduate school. He served as a judge at Daegu District Court, Daegu High Court, and as a judicial research officer at the Supreme Court. Afterwards, he worked as a lawyer and taught future legal professionals at Yeungnam University Law School. Since 2021, he has been serving as the chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Autonomous Police Committee.
Recently, based on his legal knowledge and experience with the autonomous police committee, Chairman Lee also published the "Commentary on the Autonomous Police Act," which interprets the Police Act (the law concerning the organization and operation of the national and autonomous police).
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