Let's Reexamine Even the Extinguished Fire... Jeong Yong-seon, Former Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, Joins Yoon Transition Team

Independent Candidacy After Losing Nomination in Last General Election
Police Insider: "It Will Benefit the Organization"

Jeong Yong-seon, Chief of Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] As Jeong Yong-seon, former Chief of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, joined the Presidential Transition Committee, the phrase "let's take another look at the extinguished fire" is circulating within the police force.

Jeong, the former chief, is serving as a specialist on the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Subcommittee of the Transition Committee. This subcommittee, led by Lee Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party, as secretary, has the largest personnel among the seven subcommittees of the Transition Committee, with 10 specialists and 11 working-level members.

Jeong was born in Dangjin, Chungnam, graduated from Daejeon Daesin High School, and is a graduate of the 3rd class of the Korean National Police University. He has served as Chief of Dangjin Police Station in Chungnam, Director of the Information Division 2 at the National Police Agency, Chief of Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, Director of the Investigation Bureau at the National Police Agency, and Chief of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.

In 2020, during the nomination for the general election in the Dangjin area, he was excluded from the nomination due to a court guilty verdict and declared his candidacy as an independent. During the Lee Myung-bak administration, he worked as an intelligence review officer in the Information Bureau of the National Police Agency and was prosecuted on charges of participating in comment manipulation, receiving a sentence of eight months imprisonment with a two-year probation in the first trial.

Last August, he joined President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign and took the position of Head of the Fair Election Promotion Team, marking his return to politics. During the election period, he posted a notice on the Korean National Police University Alumni Association website recruiting campaign workers, which attracted attention. He explained at the time, "I requested recommendations for personnel based on my personal judgment that those with sufficient understanding of the Public Official Election Act and election campaigning could respond appropriately according to the situation and carry out fairer activities."

Within the police force, his return is evaluated as a brilliant comeback, and there are expectations that he will empower the police. A chief of a frontline police station in Seoul said, "I remember his instructions were clear and he was intelligent," adding, "He served as the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Chief during the conservative government but faced difficulties after the Moon Jae-in administration came into power."

A National Police Agency official also said, "I thought he would no longer be used by the People Power Party after failing to receive a nomination in the last general election," and added, "After taking the position of Head of the Fair Election Promotion Team in Yoon's campaign, there are talks within the organization that he has revived." A police officer who worked with him in the Gyeonggi area recalled, "He was someone who voluntarily gave up authority and communicated with staff," and "He diligently handled work until late at night."