Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said on the 21st that the police would establish stronger internal self-policing and external oversight systems, citing what he called the heaviest responsibilities the force has ever carried following the first overhaul of the criminal justice system in 78 years. He also pledged to press ahead with police reform without wavering, saying he takes seriously the public anxiety that has grown amid a series of violent crimes.
"I will keep in mind the weight of responsibility before that of authority, and serve the public with greater humility," Kim said at the 81st Police Day ceremony held that morning at the agency's Chamsuri Hall in Seoul's Seodaemun district.
Kim also underscored the investigative responsibilities that come with the restructuring of the criminal justice system. "I will not forget that every single case is a desperate crossroads that can determine the course of a person's life," he said. "We will protect the rights and interests of the public through fair investigations that respect human rights, and we will also put in place strong internal self-policing and external oversight systems."
He addressed concerns over recent violent crimes as well. "We will respond resolutely to crimes against the socially vulnerable, and continue protection and support until victims overcome their fear and recover their daily lives," Kim said.
He also promised changes within the organization. "We will boldly clear away outdated practices from the public's point of view and push forward with police reform without wavering," Kim said. "We will move closer to the public and repay their trust with concrete action and results."
About 500 people attended the ceremony, including invited guests, police officials and bereaved families of officers killed in the line of duty. The agency chose "Police Taking a New Leap Forward, Protecting Public Safety Even More Firmly!" as this year's main theme. A separate phrase selected through a public contest last month — "Closer to the Public, Steadier on Trust" — was adopted as a standing slogan for continued use.
The ceremony also honored the sacrifices of the late Sgt. Shim Yeon-soo and the late Lt. Kim Sun-hyun, named "2026 Police Heroes." Shim died in 1963 after rescuing a citizen from the tracks as a train pulled into Mukho Station in Donghae, Gangwon State. Kim was fatally stabbed in 2018 while subduing a suspect after responding to a report of a disturbance in Yeongyang County, North Gyeongsang Province.
The agency screened video footage reconstructing the two officers' actions using artificial intelligence and presented commemorative plaques to their families.
A total of 474 people received government awards, including Kim Sung-joon, head of the public security intelligence bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who was given the Order of Service Merit, Hongjo Medal. Kim and 14 front-line officers recited the police charter together, reaffirming the force's mission and responsibilities.
The agency also set up an exhibition in the first-floor lobby of its main building and other areas showcasing police reform efforts and achievements in AI-based scientific policing. Displays included CORE-MINING, a solution for analyzing investigative data; GeoProsX, a geographic profiling system; and investigative support AI that helps draft search and seizure warrants. The exhibition is open to members of the public who applied in advance until the morning of the 23rd.