Acting police chief Kim Jong-chul checks victim protection and mental emergency response
In short
Acting National Police Agency head Kim Jong-chul visited Mapo Police Station and the Seoul mental emergency joint response center on 22 October. He said police should look after victims' safety and recovery as well as arresting suspects. The visit followed a series of relationship-based crimes and a knife attack in Incheon.
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Acting Commissioner General Kim Jong-chul of the National Police Agency visited Mapo Police Station and the Seoul mental emergency joint response center on 22 October to check the response system for crime victims and mental emergencies. Newsis and Yonhap said the visit followed a series of relationship-based crimes and a knife attack in Incheon. Asia Economy described it as Kim's first field visit for 'people-centred police service'. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
At Mapo, Kim received a briefing on crime victim protection and checked how the smartwatches used for victims' safety work. At a meeting with victim-dedicated officers and abuse prevention officers (APO), he said police should treat victims' safety and recovery as an important investigative principle, not just arrests. He asked staff to make sure that safety measures tied to the lives of victims of relationship-based crimes work properly, and, according to Newsis and Yonhap, to do their best to support victims' return to daily life so they do not bear the pain alone. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis and Yonhap gave figures on the smartwatches. Issuances rose from 14,208 in 2022 to 21,974 last year, and 19,223 had been issued through September this year. Yonhap also gave 16,690 for 2023 and 17,508 for 2024. Newsis, citing the police agency, said the number of smartwatches held rose from 3,700 in 2022 to 10,000 in 2023, then fell to 7,700 in 2024, 6,300 last year and 5,200 as of September this year. [ 2 , 3 ]
At the Seoul center, Kim heard about difficulties at mental emergency scenes and ways to improve them. The center combines the response of police and mental health professionals and opened in October 2022 as the first in the country. Asia Economy said it became the basis for expansion to 15 joint response teams nationwide. Newsis and Yonhap said 15 joint response teams now operate in 12 provincial police agencies, with 103 police officers working alongside mental health professionals from local governments. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis, citing police, said the response teams handled 9,444 of 18,877 emergency admission requests, about 50 percent. Kim said it is important that police field response capacity and partner agencies' mental health expertise are closely combined in mental emergencies. According to Newsis, he said he expected the Seoul center, which has led the development of the national system, to keep playing a leading role. Newsis said the police agency plans to improve the victim protection and support system and strengthen cooperation with related agencies at mental emergency scenes. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The visit shows the police agency putting victim protection and mental emergency response in focus after recent cases. The National Police Agency said it plans to improve victim protection and support and to strengthen cooperation with partner agencies at mental emergency scenes.
Key facts
- Acting Commissioner General Kim Jong-chul visited Mapo Police Station and the Seoul mental emergency joint response center on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said police should treat victims' safety and recovery, not only arrests, as an important investigative principle. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- At Mapo he received a briefing on crime victim protection and checked how the safety smartwatches for victims work. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Smartwatch issuances were 14,208 in 2022 and 21,974 last year, and 19,223 through September this year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Seoul center, where police and mental health professionals respond together, opened in October 2022 as the first of its kind in the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- There are now 15 joint response teams in 12 provincial police agencies, with 103 police officers working alongside local government mental health professionals. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Jong-chul visited Mapo Police Station and the Seoul mental emergency joint response center on 22 October, prompted by recent relationship-based crimes and the Incheon knife attack. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said police should look after victims' safety and recovery as well as catching suspects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Smartwatch issuances were 14,208 in 2022, 21,974 last year and 19,223 through September this year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Seoul joint response center opened in October 2022 as the first in the country. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Fifteen joint response teams operate in 12 provincial police agencies, with 103 officers. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many smartwatches the police hold: Newsis gives 5,200 as of September, down from 10,000 in 2023. Only Newsis gives holdings figures, citing the police agency.
- Whether the joint response teams handled about half of emergency admission requests (9,444 of 18,877). Only Newsis reports this figure, attributed to police.