'Controversy over Discrimination Against Male Mobile Unit' Police Chief: "Different Personnel, Scale, and Roles... Will Seek Understanding"

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency. / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency explained on the 19th that the difference in the working methods of male and female police riot squads is "inevitable due to differences in personnel and scale."

At a press briefing that day, Commissioner Kim stated, "There are over 40 male riot squads in Seoul, whereas there are only two female riot squads," adding, "Although they are both riot squads, their roles, duties, and working methods differ."

Earlier, an uproar arose when a male police officer posted a complaint on the anonymous workplace community 'Blind' about the difference in work intensity between male and female police riot squads, which was subsequently made private. The complaint was about discrimination in treatment such as working conditions, with male officers feeling disadvantaged compared to female officers.

Regarding this, Commissioner Kim said, "Male riot squads operate by unit, but female riot squads are so few that they operate at a scale slightly smaller than a platoon," adding, "Due to differences in personnel and scale, it is inevitable that they cannot work under the same conditions."

Commissioner Kim also added, "From the outside, it may seem that female riot squads receive benefits based on their working methods, but we will review that aspect again and provide explanations to seek understanding where necessary."