Issues and Vision of Korea Maritime Police

Should the Korea Maritime Police Agency (KMPA) be a comprehensive, multi-functional organization for a unique on-scene service at sea, as in the case of the U.S. Coast Guard, or should it be simply a water police agency, confining its mission only to law enforcement? The argument about enlarging or limiting KMPA's function has been and will be repeated. In this paper, Lee Sangjib highlights the internal and external issues facing KMPA, stemming partly from deficiencies of its struggles for advancement of the organization and partly from shortcomings of political support for it. In this regard, he urges KMPA to practise a scientific management system for maximizing cost-effectiveness of its administrative resources and for maintaining its identity and characteristics as a lead maritime agency. In addition, he also suggests that KMPA adopt the Total Quality Management System for quality improvements in services and greater efficiency in its organization structure to meet the future competition in the changing political and legal environment. He further recommends the proactive, non-regulatory 'Prevention Through People' program, pioneered by the U.S. Coast Guard, as a way of changing KMPA's existing lopsidedly legalistic culture. He concludes by providing a 6-point vision statement for KMPA from the standpoint of favoring enlarging the function of KMPA.