Police Agency Warns Disciplinary Action for Senior Superintendents Attending Nationwide Police Chiefs Meeting

Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency has announced disciplinary actions against senior police officers at the superintendent level who attended the "National Police Chiefs Meeting" held on the 23rd in protest against the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's establishment of the Police Bureau.

On the same day, the National Police Agency told the press corps, "Considering the public's concerns, we urged restraint and ordered the dissolution of the meeting, but the gathering was forcibly carried out, which we regard as a serious situation." It added, "After reviewing whether there was a violation of service regulations, we will take strict measures against the attendees," and emphasized, "We will specify compliance requirements for service discipline to prevent similar situations from recurring and will respond strongly to any future violations."

Earlier, on the 21st, Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, sent an email to superintendent-level officers urging, "Please consider the position and duties you hold in the eyes of the public and exercise careful judgment and execution." However, a significant number of superintendent-level police officers, including police chiefs nationwide, disregarded this and proceeded with the meeting that afternoon at the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam. It was reported that 56 superintendent-level officers attended in person, and 140 superintendents participated via video conference. Although unable to attend, approximately 350 superintendent-level officers sent flower pots in support of the meeting.

Ryu Sam-yeong, Chief of Ulsan Jungbu Police Station, who proposed holding this meeting, stated before the meeting, "We will conduct an in-depth discussion on whether the establishment of the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has any legal issues and whether it is appropriate," and added, "We will prepare suitable measures and respond appropriately." He continued, "The political neutrality of the police is a precious achievement won by the lives of democracy activists in the 1970s and 1980s, and it is wrong to hastily change the police system overnight," and said, "Superintendents will physically defend police neutrality, which is directly linked to citizens' human rights."