Internal Department Also Opposes 'Police Taming'
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Ryu Sam-young, Superintendent General who led the nationwide police chiefs' meeting opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is expected to express his position on the regular transfer personnel changes for superintendent generals implemented on the 2nd. Amid interpretations that these personnel changes are retaliatory measures against police officers who opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau, it is anticipated that internal and external controversies surrounding the police will continue for some time.
According to the police on the 6th, Superintendent General Ryu will hold a press conference in the afternoon at the Police Memorial Park in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, regarding the recent regular transfer personnel changes for superintendent generals. The press release is known to include criticisms that the personnel changes are retaliatory demotions against those who attended the superintendent generals' meeting, along with concerns arising from this. Superintendent General Ryu, who led the superintendent generals' meeting, was excluded from this personnel change as he received a three-month suspension in December last year.
Before the press conference, Superintendent General Ryu told Asia Economy, "This personnel change is a threat to retaliate if we do not submit to power." After being placed on standby following his leadership of the superintendent generals' meeting in July last year, he also said, "If control over police personnel appointments is seized, such (retaliatory personnel) risks arise," and "I am worried about the young superintendent generals whose positions are unstable."
Among the 457 superintendent generals targeted in this personnel change, a significant number of police officers who attended the superintendent generals' meeting were reportedly assigned to positions commonly referred to as 'dead-end posts.' A representative case is former Police Agency Investigation Structure Reform Team Leader Lee Eun-ae, who had consistently voiced her opinions on police reforms such as the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution. As of this day, Lee was transferred to the Police Human Resources Development Institute's Education Administration Center, a relatively unfamiliar position for someone who mainly handled investigative policy work.
This personnel change has stirred unrest within the police. On 'Polnet,' the police internal bulletin board, posts criticizing the changes as 'intimidation of the police' and 'retaliatory demotions' were made even over the past weekend. One police officer wrote in a post, "An organization swayed by the ruling power has no future," and criticized, "The damage from this will ultimately fall on the public." Other comments included, "What kind of world is this nowadays? It feels like only the police have been pushed backward," "We discuss for the organization, but instead of rewards, this is very regrettable," and "An organization that does not allow different voices will become obsolete."
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