Opposition Lawmakers Raise Consecutive Criticisms... On Allegation Definition, "No Authority to Do So"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min responded with "I will consider it" to calls for the replacement of Police Bureau Chief Kim Soon-ho, who is suspected of having informed on colleagues he worked with in the labor movement 33 years ago and was specially recruited by the police.
On the 18th, Minister Lee gave this answer in response to a question from Rep. Lee Hae-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea during a briefing at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. Rep. Lee mentioned the possibility that Kim entered the police as a reward for informing on fellow labor activists and rapidly rose through the ranks, saying, "Appointing such a person as Police Bureau Chief is not appropriate for the times and does not align with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's policies." Minister Lee replied, "I will consider it."
Minister Lee had previously dismissed criticisms from opposition lawmakers regarding Chief Kim. When Rep. Choi Ki-sang asked whether it was difficult for Kim to perform his duties amid espionage allegations, Lee said, "I think it is premature to judge suitability based on unconfirmed facts." Regarding calls to investigate the allegations, he added, "I do not have the authority to do so," but said, "There is room to examine whether the suspicions are reasonable."
Minister Lee also stated that he was not aware of the past allegations against Chief Kim beforehand. He explained, "At the time of the appointment recommendation, I thought Kim was the best candidate," adding, "I made the judgment after reviewing the entire process from the lowest rank in the police to the rank of Senior Superintendent."
Chief Kim is also suspected of having been forcibly conscripted after participating in student activism and then mobilized in the so-called recording project of the Republic of Korea Army Security Command, acting as an informant who actively collected and reported on university circle activities.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
