The Presidential Office is establishing a new "National Safety Secretary Office" dedicated to safety and security functions. Lee Jong-won, Commissioner of Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency (Senior Superintendent General), has been tapped as the inaugural National Safety Secretary.
According to the Presidential Office on the 23rd, the National Safety Secretary Office will take over and consolidate various safety-related duties previously split between the National Situation Room and the National Crisis Management Center. The move aims to strengthen response capabilities by handling police-related safety matters independently.
Lee, the incoming secretary, is regarded as a field-oriented commander with extensive experience in public safety and autonomous police affairs. He has served as Commissioner of the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency since September last year.
A native of Jincheon, Chungbuk Province, Lee graduated from the Korean National Police University. His previous posts include chief of Seoul's Gwangjin and Songpa Police Stations, head of the Autonomous Police Division at Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency, and head of Public Safety Divisions at both Gyeonggi Northern and Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agencies.