Opposing Police Bureau, Denies 'Retaliatory Personnel Moves'
"How Can You Cover the Sky with Your Palm?" Sharp Rebuke
"Superintendent Transfer Is a Move to Tame," Claims
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Ryu Sam-young, a police superintendent who led the nationwide police chiefs' meeting in opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and was severely disciplined, called the recent transfer personnel changes at the superintendent level "retaliation and police intimidation."
Ryu Sam-young, a police superintendent who led the National Superintendents' Meeting opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau and was disciplined, is holding a press conference on the regular transfer of police superintendents on the afternoon of the 6th at the Police Memorial Park in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the afternoon of the 6th, Superintendent Ryu held a press conference at the Police Memorial Park in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "All those who attended the police chiefs' meeting were subjected to disciplinary personnel changes," and added, "This sends a message that 'those who oppose the administration and do not obey will be humiliated in this way.'"
Superintendent Ryu claimed that out of about 50 attendees at the police chiefs' meeting last July, 47 were pushed into so-called 'backwater' positions. Except for those like himself who were disciplined or retired, most attendees faced disciplinary personnel actions. Specifically, Ryu said, "28 were assigned to positions one rank lower at the superintendent level, and 12 received disadvantageous short-term assignments within six months, even though they did not want them."
Regarding Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun's denial of retaliatory personnel actions during a press briefing that morning, Superintendent Ryu said, "How can you cover the sky with your palm?" He questioned, "I don't know the commissioner's intentions, but the people who were clearly disadvantaged in this personnel change are the attendees of the police chiefs' meeting. How can this be a coincidence?" He also remarked, "Even a passing cow would laugh at this."
Superintendent Ryu stated, "I came out prepared for additional disciplinary action." Earlier, on the 13th of last month, he was suspended for three months as punishment for leading the police chiefs' meeting. Ryu said, "If I were afraid of the punishment, I wouldn't have started the police chiefs' meeting or informed the media. The organization develops and the public becomes safer through disputes over what is wrong, even if it means facing disadvantages."
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