[Interview] Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard: "A Strong Coast Guard and Personnel Innovation, Two Years of Tension and Responsibility"

70 Years of Korea Coast Guard History: First Sergeant-Origin Commissioner Honored
Merit-Based Promotions with Shortened Advancement Periods and Accelerated Officer Candidate System
Efforts to Enhance the Status of Global Maritime Security Agency

"From the Commissioner’s office, the scenes of the sea where the Coast Guard vessels roam are visible through CCTV footage. Every moment, my heart is on those vessels. Whenever I handle tasks or contemplate policies, it is a striking view that reminds me of my original resolve."

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard (56), recently published a memoir that reflects the tension and heavy responsibility of constantly monitoring the turbulent sea as the head of the Coast Guard. Having spent 37 years with the sea since his time as a Coast Guard combat police officer in 1987, the sea he faced as Commissioner was more severe, suggesting that the past two years have been challenging. He is the first Commissioner in the 70-year history of the Coast Guard to have started as a patrol officer.

"The title of 'first' is personally an honor, but at the same time, I felt the heavy burden of expectations inside and outside the Coast Guard to set a 'good precedent.' Regardless of when my term ends, I pledged to focus on creating a Coast Guard that is 'faithful to the basics and strong on the front lines.' Having worked in various departments since my patrol officer days, I had confidence because I could better understand the organization."

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, visited the site of a capsized vessel 37 nautical miles south of Yokjido, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, on March 9, encouraging and directing search and rescue operations. Photo by Korea Coast Guard

The Korea Coast Guard experienced a painful dissolution during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2014 due to the failure to rescue during the Sewol ferry disaster. Subsequently, in 2022, controversy arose when the investigation results of the 'West Sea civil servant killing incident' were overturned after 1 year and 9 months, leading to an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection and disciplinary actions against senior officials, plunging the organization into another crisis. This aftermath caused significant public distrust in the Coast Guard, widespread conflicts among staff, and a decline in morale. This was why organizational reform was more necessary than ever after Kim’s appointment as Commissioner in January last year.

Commissioner Kim reorganized the Coast Guard to create a stronger and more robust force by having various incidents and accidents handled primarily by police stations or regional offices on the ground, while the headquarters focused on policy, planning, and budgeting to support these efforts. To strengthen the response system for maritime safety accidents, sovereignty infringements, and various maritime crimes, the comprehensive situation room was restructured from being under the Security Bureau to a department directly under the Deputy Commissioner. The head of the situation room was elevated to the rank of Senior Superintendent, and a 'multiple rank system' was introduced for the situation management team leader position, previously held by a Superintendent, allowing a Chief Superintendent to be appointed to ensure a seamless command system.

To enhance maritime security in the East Coast region, which has many beaches and marine leisure visitors, the establishment of the Gangneung Coast Guard Station has also been promoted. This has been a long-standing project of the Coast Guard and is scheduled to open in March next year.

The most notable change during Commissioner Kim’s tenure has been the personnel system. The minimum service period required for promotion by rank was reduced, shortening the time from patrol officer to Senior Superintendent from over 16 years to 11 years, cutting 5 years. Additionally, the reflection ratio of career evaluations, which automatically accumulate with seniority during promotion reviews and contribute to organizational rigidity, was reduced from 30% to 20%.

He also introduced the 'accelerated officer candidate system,' selecting staff at the Sergeant rank to undergo one year of training alongside officer candidates and then appointing them as Lieutenants. Unlike promotion by review based on work evaluations or promotion by examination assessing individual knowledge, this system allows promotion based on work performance and capabilities. As Commissioner Kim himself was a patrol officer, this opens wider paths for capable patrol officer-origin staff to advance to senior positions and is expected to invigorate the organization.

Commissioner Kim Jong-wook of the Korea Coast Guard is the first commissioner to have started as a patrol officer in the 70-year history of the Coast Guard. During his tenure, he focused on building a Coast Guard that is "faithful to the basics and strong in the field."

The Coast Guard also focused on raising its status as a global maritime security agency. To strengthen maritime security cooperation, it held bilateral and multilateral meetings with domestic and foreign maritime security agencies, transferred decommissioned patrol vessels, and invited foreign maritime security officials for training, maintaining relationships in various forms. Notably, the 20th Asia Heads of Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM), with 22 member countries including Korea, China, and Japan, was held domestically for the first time under the leadership of the Korea Coast Guard, attracting attention.

Commissioner Kim said, "To protect the safety of our national vessels and citizens at sea, as well as to respond to transnational crimes such as drugs, smuggling, illegal immigration, and maritime cybercrime, exchange and cooperation with foreign maritime security agencies are essential. Considering the importance of European countries expanding their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, I hope maritime cooperation with the UK, France, and others will be strengthened next year."

When asked how he wants to be remembered as a leader after completing his two-year term at the end of next month, Kim said, "I would be happy to be remembered as a commander who is meticulous in ensuring that rescue workers struggling in the pitch-black sea are properly clothed and fed against the cold, and who demonstrates excellent on-site response capabilities during maritime accidents and crises."

He added, "After retirement, I want to create opportunities to pass on know-how to students studying to become Coast Guard officers and to inform them about the unique characteristics of the Coast Guard," indicating that even after returning to civilian life, he will always be with the Republic of Korea Coast Guard.