Candidate Yoon Hee-geun: "No Plan to Withdraw Superintendent Ryu Sam-young's Standby Transfer Order"

On the afternoon of the 25th, Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, is answering questions from reporters as he leaves work at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, stated on the 25th that he has "no plans to revoke the suspension order" against Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-young, who led the nationwide police chiefs meeting.

On the same day, Yoon told reporters on his way home, "I believe Chief Superintendent Ryu's responsibility is not only for leading the meeting but also for independently judging and refusing a legitimate work order and failing to convey it to many participants, which is a serious matter." He added, "I had urged Chief Superintendent Ryu to exercise restraint beforehand, but the meeting proceeded, and there were concerning aspects regarding its content and method, so I requested its dissolution two or three times." He explained, "I considered it inappropriate for him to perform his duties as a police chief, so I issued the suspension order."

Yoon said that the decision to suspend Chief Superintendent Ryu was entirely his own. He stated, "As stipulated by law, I consulted with my staff and made an independent judgment." Regarding the disciplinary actions initiated against the superintendent-level officers who attended the meeting, he said, "I believe the responsibilities of the organizers and the general attendees differ in severity," adding, "Specific details will be confirmed through fact-finding investigations, and appropriate measures will be taken accordingly." He also expressed, "This situation is more regrettable than anyone else."

Regarding the announcement by police officers at the rank of Inspector and Lieutenant that they plan to hold a nationwide field team leaders meeting, Yoon said, "There should be no more collective actions that cause concern to the public," and added, "I expect that there will be no further acts of expressing collective opinions." Previously, Inspector Kim Seong-jong of the Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul posted on the police internal network on the 24th, announcing plans to hold a nationwide field team leaders meeting at the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, on the 30th. In response, there are proposals within the police for district chiefs and substation chiefs, who are on the front lines of public safety, to also participate in the nationwide team leaders meeting.

Regarding Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min's comparison of the police chiefs meeting to the Hanahoe coup, Yoon said, "Chief superintendents play a crucial role as community safety leaders, and I think the expression reflects a serious view of such meetings held by these chief superintendents." On Lee's remark that "there is a specific group or background leading the chiefs' meeting," Yoon said, "Our police force has a large number of members and diverse entry paths," but added, "If a fact-finding investigation is conducted, won't the truth be confirmed?"

Yoon also urged police personnel, saying, "Further confusion is not what the nation or the public desires," emphasizing, "From today onward, there should be no actions that cause concern to the public." He further requested, "Return to your fundamental role of ensuring public safety, trust the leadership including myself, and unite to fulfill your original duties."