Min Gwan-gi, Chairman of the National Police Workplace Council, appeared via video at the confirmation hearing for Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner of the National Police Agency, held at the National Assembly on the 8th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Min Gwan-gi, chairman of the workplace council at Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station in Chungbuk, said on the 8th about Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, "I believe in his statement that he will act according to his own will when the neutrality and independence of the police are compromised." Min, who had shaved his head and conducted a hunger strike last month in opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, collapsed during the protest. He appeared via video as a witness at Yoon's confirmation hearing that day.
Opposition's Strategy... Min Gwan-gi Responds to Yoon Hee-geun
At the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee confirmation hearing, Min expressed his trust in Yoon in response to related questions from Oh Young-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Oh questioned Yoon, saying that he represented the government's and Minister Lee Sang-min's logic during the establishment of the Police Bureau and doubted that Yoon would find it difficult to refuse undue pressure from authorities after becoming Commissioner General. Although the questioning seemed aimed at eliciting a sympathetic response from Min, who led the opposition to the Police Bureau's establishment, Min instead responded to Yoon's repeated requests to "trust the leadership."
When asked why he opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau, Min answered, "The biggest problem and resistance on the ground stemmed from statements by the Minister of the Interior and Safety." He added, "Minister Lee argued that because the police's investigative authority had expanded due to the expansion of investigative rights, it needed to be controlled. This raised the question of whether the Minister of the Interior and Safety intended to control investigations, which led to a firm stance." However, when asked whether he believed Yoon tried to communicate and gather opposing opinions, Min drew a line, saying, "I think the effort part and his personal conviction are somewhat different."
Regarding suspicions that the current government is dividing the police organization internally into police academy graduates and non-police academy graduates, Min said, "I have worked in the police for 29 years, but this is the first time I have heard the terms non-police academy and police academy," adding, "I suspect that the political circles are trying to classify the police into police academy and non-police academy groups." Previously, Minister Lee criticized a specific group within the police during the Police Bureau's establishment process, likening them to the Hanahoe and identifying police academy graduates as the leading faction.
Kim Sun-ho, the inaugural Director of the Police Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is entering the Police Bureau office set up at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Kim Soon-ho, Police Bureau Chief's Past... Becoming a Hot Issue
The hearing also brought to light the recent controversy surrounding Kim Soon-ho, the Police Bureau Chief, and his entry into the police force. Kim Gyo-heung, a Democratic Party member, requested during the afternoon session, "Please submit documents explaining what expertise Kim had in security work in 1989 and how he was specially recruited." Recently, Kim's past has been controversial because he suddenly disappeared after being active in the Incheon-Bucheon Democratic Workers' Association (Innohoe) in 1989 and reappeared six months later as a 'special recruitment' police officer in counterintelligence. Former Innohoe members suspect that Kim betrayed his colleagues and was specially recruited as a reward.
Yoon said in response to related questions from Lee Sung-man, a Democratic Party member, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety was asked to recommend candidates for the Police Bureau Chief, and multiple recommendations were made, among which Kim was one. We did not verify matters from 30 years ago during this process." He added, "Coincidentally, we recently confirmed through media reports that Kim had such a background. Matching the Police Bureau with police who suppressed democratization movements 30 years ago and expressing concerns is an overreaction."
Earlier in the morning, Yoon also responded to Lee's questions about Kim, saying, "As a nominee for Commissioner General, I went through the recommendation process for the Police Bureau Chief and did not know about matters from 30 years ago." However, with the confirmation hearing ongoing and a Ministry of the Interior and Safety briefing scheduled next week, the controversy over Kim's past is expected to continue. Yoon said, "I will review the matter again later."
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Ruling Party: "Have You Heard of the Myeongdong Theory?"... Yoon: "Myeongdong Theory?"
The hearing also included calls for strengthening the police's investigative capabilities to restore public trust. The police's investigative capacity regarding the case surrounding Lee Jae-myung, a Democratic Party member, was also scrutinized. Jo Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party, said, "The police must provide the public with trust that they conduct investigations with political neutrality, but watching the investigation of Lee Jae-myung raises doubts about whether that is possible."
Jo criticized the police for failing to properly investigate despite four suspicious deaths, including Yoo Han-gi, former head of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation's development project division linked to the Daejang-dong development special favor allegations in December last year, and Kim Mo, a witness in the suspected misuse of corporate cards by Lee's wife, Kim Hye-kyung, last month. Yoon responded, "I understand that the police conduct investigations according to laws and procedures without any political considerations." However, Jo pressured Yoon by referring to the 'Myeongdong Theory,' a pun on the heliocentric theory, which states that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Below is part of the exchange between Jo and Yoon that day.
Rep. Jo then asked Yoon whether the police are currently conducting Myeongdong Theory-like investigations regarding various allegations involving Lee. Yoon replied, "I find it difficult to respond to the implication of the Myeongdong Theory, but I want to clearly state that investigations are conducted fairly according to laws and principles," emphasizing again.
Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 8th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
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