[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 12th, the National Police Agency announced that it will conduct an internal investigation on Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-yeong, who led the 'National Police Chiefs Meeting' opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. This follows the administrative leave order issued on the day of the meeting and marks the beginning of formal disciplinary procedures.
The Internal Affairs Office of the National Police Agency plans to summon Chief Superintendent Ryu for questioning at 2 p.m. on the same day. This investigation comes about 20 days after Ryu led the nationwide police chiefs meeting held on the 23rd of last month. Previously, immediately after the meeting, Ryu, who was then the Chief of Ulsan Jungbu Police Station, was notified to be on standby duty at the Public Safety Department’s Police Planning, Information, and Equipment Division of the Ulsan Police Agency, and on the 26th of that month, he was summoned for an internal investigation.
The National Police Agency is reportedly set to verify the overall facts regarding the circumstances of the meeting, as well as the instructions and demands from Yoon Hee-geun, the Police Commissioner (then acting Commissioner). If the investigation deems disciplinary action necessary, the severity will be determined and the case will be referred to the Police Officer Disciplinary Committee. Subsequently, the committee will decide on the disciplinary measures based on the agency’s recommendations. Commissioner Yoon may also provide opinions on the severity of the discipline before the case is submitted to the committee.
Within the police force, there is a strong sentiment hoping for a decision of immunity for Chief Superintendent Ryu. Many voices argue that the administrative leave order already serves as sufficient disciplinary action. Additionally, some suggest that avoiding further disciplinary measures would be better for stabilizing the organization, which has experienced internal turmoil during the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Previously, police organizations such as the Police Workplace Council, the National Public Officials Labor Union Police Branch, and the Police Officers’ Labor Union, which opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau, requested the withdrawal of the administrative leave order against Ryu. Should a disciplinary decision be made, it could potentially reignite internal opposition within the organization.
Commissioner Yoon previously avoided a direct answer to opposition party questions during the confirmation hearing about whether disciplinary action against Chief Superintendent Ryu would be withdrawn, stating, "I will make a judgment based on the verification of facts and the seriousness of the matter." The opposition party criticized this stance, questioning, "If someone who always stands on the side of the police acts like this, can they lead 140,000 police officers?" However, Commissioner Yoon maintained his position. The National Police Agency is currently conducting investigations on 55 other police chiefs who attended the nationwide police chiefs meeting, in addition to Chief Superintendent Ryu.
Meanwhile, the National Police Agency carried out personnel reshuffles involving 293 Chief Superintendents the day before, including appointing Kim Seong-jun, Security Planning Officer of the Seoul Police Agency, as the Innovation Planning and Coordination Officer of the National Police Agency. Among them, Lee Dong-hwan, head of the Police Science Department at the Korean National Police University who participated in the nationwide police chiefs meeting opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau, was placed on standby duty in the University’s Operations Support Division. A National Police Agency official explained, "Mr. Lee was placed on standby duty because he is scheduled to retire in December this year, and this is unrelated to his attendance at the chiefs meeting," adding, "In this personnel reshuffle, all Chief Superintendents nearing retirement, including Mr. Lee, were placed on standby duty."
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