Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-yeong's Sharp Criticism: "The Establishment of the Police Bureau Disrespects and Insults the Police"

Ryu Sam-yeong, Chief Superintendent who led the National Chief Superintendents' Meeting opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau and was disciplined, appeared as a witness at the plenary meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 18th, responding to questions from lawmakers.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-yeong, who was placed on standby after leading a nationwide police chiefs meeting, criticized the establishment of the Police Bureau as "disrespecting and insulting the police."

On the 18th, Chief Superintendent Ryu appeared as a witness at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's briefing on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency, stating, "The content is illegal, and it was rushed through while the National Police Commissioner was absent, so there are procedural flaws." He added, "The establishment of the Police Bureau based on a presidential decree requires at least 40 days of public consultation under the Administrative Procedures Act, but it was done in only 4 days," indicating that "the opinions of police personnel were completely disregarded."

Regarding the remarks by Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who compared the police chiefs meeting opposing the Police Bureau's establishment to a 'coup,' Chief Superintendent Ryu called it "brazen hypocrisy." He said, "It is ironic to call a meeting held voluntarily by public officials on their day off, spending their own money to maintain political neutrality, a coup," and added, "The real coup perpetrators are those who silence public officials and proceed with processes that undermine political neutrality."

About being placed on standby after leading the police chiefs meeting, Chief Superintendent Ryu said, "It is reasonable to believe that coercive power capable of overriding the National Police Commissioner's will was involved." He explained, "On the day of the meeting, the National Police Commissioner, through the personnel officer, suggested discussing the meeting results and even offered to have a meal if desired," adding, "There was a back-and-forth conversation, but suddenly the National Police Commissioner declared the meeting illegal and ordered its dissolution during the session." He concluded, "Only someone with a double personality could do such a thing."

The ruling and opposition parties also clashed over the establishment of the Police Bureau. Lee Man-hee, a member of the People Power Party, argued, "The Police Bureau was promoted as a way to normalize and make transparent the exercise of ministerial authority after the Blue House Civil Affairs Office, which had unofficially commanded the police, was abolished in the new administration." On the other hand, Kim Gyo-heung of the Democratic Party countered, "According to one survey, over 90% of police officers responded that creating the Police Bureau was unfair, and only 3% said they trusted it."