Appointment of Yoon Hee-geun as Commissioner of Police Agency Amid Installation and Internal Opposition... Double Burden

Protest Against Police Control with Shaved Heads and Fasting
Managing Internal Public Opinion Is the Top Priority
Urgent Need to Restore Relations with Government
Rapid Promotion Path for Police Academy Graduates

Yoon Hee-geun, the newly appointed Commissioner General of the National Police Agency and current Deputy Commissioner General, is attending the National Police Commission in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 5th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Although Yoon Hee-geun, Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, has been nominated as the first Commissioner General of the National Police Agency under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, numerous challenges lie ahead and the path forward is not smooth. Upon his inauguration, Yoon will need to stabilize the police organization, which is experiencing internal strife due to ‘police control,’ and serve as a bridge between the government and police, which have been in extreme conflict. However, opposition from frontline police officers is spreading, and the government maintains its stance on the ‘police control’ controversy, making it likely that Yoon will find himself in a ‘sandwich situation.’

Some frontline police officers began relay head-shaving and fasting starting from the 4th. There is also strong dissatisfaction toward the leadership for failing to actively respond to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s moves to control the police. After Kim Chang-ryong, the former Commissioner General, tendered his resignation, Yoon also failed to present any significant countermeasures while leading the police. Ultimately, managing this internal public opinion is the top priority.

Restoring relations with the government is also urgent. Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized the police over the reversal of the Superintendent General personnel appointment, calling it a “disruption of national order.” He also stated that responsibility should be determined through an internal police investigation. However, the police have only explained it as ‘customary practice’ and have remained silent regarding the investigation. It is said that the delay in accepting Kim’s resignation, submitted last month, is related to this issue. Still, Yoon cannot continue to confront the government that appointed him as Commissioner General.

Yoon, a native of Cheongju, Chungbuk, entered the police force as part of the 7th class of the Korean National Police University. If he assumes the role of Commissioner General, he will be the third consecutive head from the Police University, following Min Gap-ryong and Kim Chang-ryong. Yoon has experienced an unprecedented rapid promotion. In December last year, he was promoted to Superintendent General, then within six months to Senior Superintendent General, and now to the top police position. Considering that Kim, who recently resigned, was from the 4th class and former Deputy Commissioner General Jin Gyo-hoon, who served until last month, was from the 5th class, this is expected to be recorded as a case of breaking the seniority order.

Inside and outside the police, many interpret his appointment as Deputy Commissioner General as a personnel move anticipating his appointment as Commissioner General. Although non-Police University graduates briefly rose after the Superintendent General reversal incident, President Yoon ultimately nominated Yoon Hee-geun as the next Commissioner General. A police official said, “It appears that he was judged to be the right person to stabilize the police organization, which is shaken amid the police control controversy, based on his gentle leadership.”

The Commissioner General of the National Police Agency is appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior and Safety with the consent of the National Police Commission. On the morning of the 5th, an extraordinary meeting of the National Police Commission was convened to review Yoon’s appointment consent proposal. Yoon will then undergo a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly before assuming office as the 23rd Commissioner General. The term of the Commissioner General is two years, with no possibility of reappointment.