Minister Sang-min Lee "Proposes Deputy Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun as Candidate for Commissioner of the National Police Agency"

Yoon Hee-geun, the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, is removing his mask to share his thoughts with the press as he arrives at the National Police Commission in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 5th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min announced on the 5th that he is recommending Deputy Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun as the candidate for Commissioner of the National Police Agency.

On the afternoon of the same day, Minister Lee stated, "Deputy Commissioner Yoon has a solid reputation based on his extensive experience and capabilities in intelligence, security, and autonomous police-related duties, and possesses the leadership to lead the 140,000-strong police organization." He also said, "He is deemed the right person to fairly and faithfully carry out the police mission of protecting the public and maintaining public order, grounded in a strong sense of national duty and mission."

Candidate Yoon, a native of Cheongju, Chungbuk, graduated from the Korean National Police University (7th class) and joined the police force in 1991. He is regarded as an "intelligence expert," having served as Chief of the Intelligence Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Director of the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Department, Policy Officer for Autonomous Police Cooperation at the National Police Agency, and Director of the Security Bureau. After being promoted to Senior Superintendent General in December last year and then rapidly advancing to Commissioner General in less than six months, he has now been nominated as the Commissioner, marking an unprecedented promotion trajectory. Considering that the recently resigned Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong was from the 4th class of the Police University and former Deputy Commissioner 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 system. Furthermore, following Commissioners Min Gap-ryong and Kim Chang-ryong, he will be the third consecutive Commissioner from the Police University.

The Commissioner 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. Accordingly, Minister Lee requested the National Police Commission to hold an extraordinary meeting to obtain consent for the Commissioner candidate, and the commission gave its approval on the same day. After going through legal procedures such as the National Assembly confirmation hearing, President Yoon Seok-yeol can make the final appointment of candidate Yoon as Commissioner of the National Police Agency.