When Asked Why He Alone Avoided Arrest at Innohoe, Police Director Kim Sun-ho Says "..."

Hired Through Special Recruitment for Expertise
No Mention Even as Chief Superintendent or Senior Superintendent... 'Embarrassed' by Speculation and Allegations

Kim Sun-ho, the inaugural Director of the Police Bureau, is watching the press conference of Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who has just finished visiting and encouraging staff at the entrance of the Police Bureau in the Government Seoul Office building, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Regarding Kim Sunho, the Director of the Police Bureau, who resigned from the Incheon Bucheon Democratic Workers' Association and voluntarily surrendered before being specially recruited as a police officer, he explained that the immunity part was a situation he was not aware of.

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jongbae's Focus' on the 11th, Director Kim said, "The immunity part was a situation I could not fully understand at the time." When the host asked again if he meant he did not know why he received immunity, Director Kim briefly replied, "Yes."

When pointed out that it was hard to understand how he received criminal immunity just by surrendering despite holding a very important position as the person in charge of the Bucheon area within the Innohoe, Kim said, "I am cautious about making assumptions," but added, "I think it might have been done with the idea of recruiting or specially hiring me."

Regarding the reason for his special recruitment, he emphasized, "I understand that I was specially recruited because I was considered a person with expertise," and added, "To become a Juche faction member, one must study Juche ideology, the North Korean revolutionary line toward the South, and also communist revolutionary theories such as Lenin's revolutionary theory, which succeeded the Russian revolution. These studies were generally conducted."

When the host pointed out, "If those who joined activist circles and received ideological education had only wished, the hypothesis that their expertise would be recognized and they could all become police officers could be established," Kim responded, "I think that is a matter for the recruiting institution to evaluate."

Regarding the suspicion that Hong Seungsang, then a police inspector of the Internal Affairs Division's Public Security Department 3, who was in charge of investigating the Innohoe case, was responsible for his special recruitment, Kim said, "I could not ask for his understanding; it is a bit difficult to talk about," but added, "I will reveal it soon."

He also commented on recent media reports, saying, "There was no issue when I was a Senior Superintendent or a Police Commissioner," and added, "Now that I have become the Director of the Police Bureau, they are framing me with groundless suspicions and allegations, so I am suspicious of their intentions."