Most Candidates for Next Police Chief
Controversy Over Handling of Interfloor Noise Weapon Assault
Incheon Police Agency Only One with B Grade
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Sung-pil] Metropolitan and provincial police agencies led by the Commissioner General, who are classified as candidates for the next Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, received the highest rating in last year's performance evaluation. The Incheon Police Agency, which experienced turmoil including the resignation of its chief due to inadequate response during an inter-floor noise stabbing incident, was the only one to receive a lower rating.
According to the '2021 Metropolitan and Provincial Police Agency Performance Evaluation Ratings' obtained by Asia Economy from the National Police Agency on the 15th, last year the Seoul Police Agency, Busan Police Agency, and Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency all received the highest S rating. All are metropolitan and provincial police agencies headed by a Commissioner General. The Commissioner General is the rank just below the Chief Commissioner General, the head of the police. Excluding the Director of the National Investigation Headquarters, who is guaranteed a two-year term, there are six key positions: Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, Superintendent General of the Korean National Police University, and chiefs of the Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agencies. They are considered candidates to succeed Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong, whose term expires this July.
The Incheon Police Agency received a solitary B rating. This is interpreted as a consequence of the inadequate response to the 'stabbing rampage' incident in Incheon last year. In November, when a stabbing rampage occurred at a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon, two responding officers left the scene despite the family being in a critical situation under attack, sparking strong public criticism. Commissioner General Kim bowed his head and apologized directly to the public, and former Incheon Police Chief Song Min-heon resigned, taking full responsibility for the incident.
On the other hand, the Gyeongnam Police Agency, led by a Superintendent General?the third highest police rank?was the only police agency at that rank to receive an S rating. Gyeongnam Police Agency reportedly earned high scores in the comprehensive security performance evaluation due to the progress made by the newly established special investigation team for child abuse cases last year. This agency was the first nationwide to apply the revised Child Abuse Punishment Act's child abuse homicide charge to a suspect in a child abuse death case that occurred in Namhae in June last year. Following Gyeongnam Police Agency, seven agencies including ▲Daegu Police Agency ▲Daejeon Police Agency ▲Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency ▲Gangwon Police Agency ▲Jeonbuk Police Agency ▲Jeonnam Police Agency ▲Gyeongbuk Police Agency received A ratings. Gwangju Police Agency, Ulsan Police Agency, and Chungnam Police Agency were rated B along with Incheon Police Agency.
Chungbuk Police Agency, Jeju Police Agency, and Sejong Police Agency received the lowest C rating. These agencies are known to have faced criticism for lax public service discipline or inadequate investigations. Chungbuk Police Agency suffered from a series of internal sexual misconduct incidents last year. Although the 'one strike out' policy was applied to the officers involved, resulting in dismissals, the local community criticized the agency for failing to present fundamental reform measures. Jeju Police Agency faced national condemnation for failing to prevent the 'Jeju middle school student murder case' last year. In July, a middle school student was brutally murdered at a residence in Jocheon-eup, Jeju, by Baek Gwang-seok, the mother's former live-in partner, and accomplice Kim Si-nam. Despite various protective measures and Baek being previously charged with domestic violence, the incident sparked public outrage.
Sejong Police Agency was reported to have failed in investigating public service corruption. It did not achieve significant results in the investigation of real estate corruption allegations triggered by the LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation) speculation scandal last year. For example, despite a prolonged investigation into former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, who resigned amid real estate speculation allegations, the case was dismissed without charges, sparking controversy over a 'lenient investigation.' Within the police, there were even remarks contrasting this with the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, which operated a special investigation team for real estate speculation offenders and referred nearly 900 suspects to the prosecution.
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