[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the 12th, Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated that he will make every effort to implement anti-corruption policies thoroughly in relation to the case where Senior Superintendent A was booked on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act for receiving various gifts from a so-called fake seafood businessman, Mr. Kim.
Commissioner Kim said in a written statement at a press briefing on the 12th, "We will meticulously check the progress of detailed tasks and faithfully execute the anti-corruption promotion plan." He introduced that last month, he had established a 'Mid- to Long-term Anti-corruption Promotion Plan' aimed at eliminating the root causes of corruption and building a sustainable anti-corruption system. Apart from Senior Superintendent A, no other police officers have yet been confirmed to have received money or valuables from Mr. Kim.
The police clarified the issue related to Choi, the mother-in-law of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was recently sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial for violating the Medical Service Act and fraudulently receiving nursing care benefits. Despite all business partners being investigated by the police in 2015, no charges were confirmed against Choi at that time. A National Police Agency official said, "The investigation team at the time conducted the investigation focusing on the actual operators of the clinic based on intelligence and the investigation request from the National Health Insurance Service," adding, "They focused on securing evidence to prove the charges against the main culprit, the clinic manager."
Regarding the proposal to elevate the National Police Commission to a central administrative agency to realize effective police control, Commissioner Kim said, "Since the related bill has been submitted to the National Assembly, we plan to continue discussions centered on that bill." However, he also noted, "The change in the legal status of the National Police Commission is a significant matter linked to the police’s administrative authority, status, and organizational system. It requires in-depth discussions and legislative policy decisions." On the 5th, the National Police Commission resolved at a plenary meeting three steps to realize the commission’s substantial role: ▲ transforming into a collegiate administrative agency ▲ expanding the number of commissioners and making the chairperson a full-time position ▲ elevating the commission under the President or Prime Minister. Chairman Park Jeong-hoon claimed, "The commission’s balancing and checking role over the National Police Agency exists only in legal texts and does not effectively function as a controlling and supervisory body in practice."
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