Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station to Be Upgraded from Senior Superintendent General to Senior Superintendent-Led Station

16th Case Nationwide
Significant Increase in Police Personnel and Budget Expected

The Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, will be upgraded from a Senior Superintendent General-led station to a Senior Superintendent-led station.

According to the city of Hwaseong on December 12, the proposal to upgrade the Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station has passed the reviews of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The final resolution is scheduled to be made by the National Police Commission on December 15.

In principle, the head of a police station holds the rank of Senior Superintendent General, but in exceptional cases, the position may be held by an officer of a higher rank, Senior Superintendent, or a lower rank, Superintendent.

The upgrade of Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station to a Senior Superintendent-led station marks the 16th such case among 261 police stations nationwide. It is the first upgrade of a police station to this rank since Bucheon Wonmi Police Station in 2014.

This upgrade is interpreted as a response to concerns over public safety gaps caused by the rapid population growth in Hwaseong. The city covers an area of 844 square kilometers, which is 1.4 times the size of Seoul. Its population has reached 1.06 million. However, with only two police stations, each police officer is responsible for 996 residents, which is 2.5 times the national average of 391.

Accordingly, the city has been actively promoting the upgrade to a Senior Superintendent-led police station since last year. In February of this year, Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun and four local members of the National Assembly jointly submitted a petition to the National Police Agency.

With the upgrade, the number of police personnel will significantly increase, reducing response times to 112 emergency calls and strengthening patrol activities. The public safety budget will also be expanded, allowing for greater investment in acquiring advanced equipment, increasing the number of CCTV cameras, and establishing smart policing systems.

The city plans to establish a new police station in line with the launch of four district offices in February next year. Ultimately, Hwaseong aims to operate a system of four police stations by 2040, when the population is expected to reach 1.55 million.

Mayor Jeong stated, "This upgrade is the result of the combined efforts of Hwaseong City, local National Assembly members, and Dongtan Police Station," adding, "We will continue to push for the establishment of additional police stations to make Hwaseong a city where all 1.06 million residents can live safely and with peace of mind."