[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 23rd, Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, said regarding the issue of his position following President Yoon Seok-yeol's remark about "national discipline disruption," "I do not think it is appropriate to express my position." This is interpreted as a clear rejection of the resignation rumors.
Commissioner Kim met with reporters on his way home and said, "My stance that I will not neglect the duties of the Commissioner due to attachment to the position remains unchanged," but he made the above statement. Regarding President Yoon's comment on the police responsibility amid the reversal of the Superintendent General personnel appointments, calling it a "national discipline disruption," Kim avoided a direct answer, saying, "I understand that our personnel department has provided an explanation." Earlier, the police explained, "It was a 'custom' to announce an incorrect preliminary personnel plan before the President's approval and then reverse it to notify the final plan."
On the 16th, ahead of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety advisory committee's announcement of recommendations on police control, Kim wrote on the police internal bulletin board, "I will never cling to the position and will be a Commissioner who stands proudly in history." Subsequently, on the 21st, the advisory committee's recommendations, including the establishment of a Police Bureau, were announced, and on the same day, a surprise personnel reshuffle of Superintendent Generals was carried out, sparking rumors of voluntary resignation within the police. Moreover, the unprecedented reversal of seven appointments about two hours after the Superintendent General personnel announcement, combined with President Yoon's "national discipline disruption" remark that day, led to speculation that Kim's position had become unstable.
Amid this, by effectively dismissing the voluntary resignation rumors, Commissioner Kim is expected to maintain his position and continue to respond to the government's moves to control the police. However, the situation is not easy. First, Kim requested a meeting with Minister Lee Sang-min on the day the Ministry of the Interior and Safety advisory committee's recommendations were announced, but it is known that he has not yet received any response. There has been no opportunity to convey the police's stance on the police control plan.
Furthermore, since President Yoon pointed out the police's fault in the Superintendent General personnel reversal incident, there is a possibility that investigations and disciplinary actions against those responsible will follow. When asked by reporters whether there are plans for internal investigations, inspections, or disciplinary actions, Kim said, "At this time, I have nothing further to say." He also responded to the government's criticism that the police released the personnel plan without internal coordination by saying, "I have nothing further to add."
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