The unique status and authority limitations of the 'Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Autonomous Police' have sparked debate in online communities.
On August 25, a post titled 'Interesting Jeju Police Organization' appeared on an online forum.
The post explained that unlike the national police, which is under the National Police Agency, the Jeju autonomous police is directly supervised by the governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
According to the post, the Jeju autonomous police operate patrol cars and motorcycles, and are equipped with standard police gear such as firearms and handcuffs. However, there are clear differences in the scope of their duties and authority compared to the national police.
The most significant difference lies in their authority to handle accident investigations and criminal cases. The autonomous police have limited power to investigate or manage incidents they witness during patrols, requiring them to refer cases to the national police (Jeju Police Agency) for action.
The primary responsibilities of the Jeju autonomous police include ensuring public safety, traffic enforcement, maintaining order at tourist sites, and event security. While their uniforms and patrol vehicles resemble those of regular police, their designs and colors differ.
As this structure has come under scrutiny, numerous critical comments regarding the efficiency and identity of the autonomous police system have emerged in major online communities.
One user questioned, 'What is this? Are they the governor's private soldiers?'
Another user remarked, 'The autonomous police system was pushed through during Moon Jae-in's administration and implemented nationwide, not just in Jeju. The boundaries between national and autonomous police duties are unclear, and so are the responsibilities.'
Additionally, another commenter noted, 'The Jeju Autonomous Police is a different entity from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency. The police we commonly think of in Jeju belong to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency,' emphasizing that the provincial police agency is significantly larger than the autonomous police.
Other sarcastic remarks included comments like, 'They are just a security company carrying firearms and handcuffs,' and 'Are they police or security personnel?'
While it is true that the Jeju Autonomous Police is part of the local government organization in Jeju, there are legal oversight mechanisms in place through the Autonomous Police Committee. Although the governor has authority over personnel matters within the autonomous police as stipulated by the Jeju Special Act, it cannot be concluded that the organization solely operates under the governor's personal orders.
Meanwhile, the recent controversy surrounding the 'false conclusion and inadequate investigation' of the missing person case involving Ms. Jang Mi-ran has drawn public outrage. This incident was caused by a police officer from the national police organization, specifically the Jeju Police Agency (Jeju Western Police Station), and is unrelated to the Jeju Autonomous Police.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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