New Phase in Appointment of Head of Noodle Headquarters... Personnel Verification System Under Scrutiny (Comprehensive)

The next phase of the appointment of the 2nd Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters has begun as Attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who had been selected for the position, voluntarily expressed his intention to resign. The National Police Agency is reportedly leaning towards an internal selection process since there was already one round of public recruitment during Attorney Jeong's appointment. However, criticism of the personnel screening system for failing to properly filter out the candidate’s child’s history of school violence is inevitable.

Seoul Seodaemun-gu Migeun-dong Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters

Emphasis on Internal Selection... Woo Jong-su and Choi Joo-won Expected to Rise

On the 25th, immediately after Attorney Jeong expressed his intention to resign due to his child’s school violence issue, the National Police Agency stated, "We will begin the procedure to recommend a successor," adding, "We will proceed as quickly as possible while ensuring a solid acting system so that there are no gaps in the police investigation command structure." The agency also noted, "Since this is the first case of its kind, reviewing relevant laws and consulting related ministries is necessary," and added, "It may take some time."

Inside and outside the police, the atmosphere seems to be shifting toward internal selection after Attorney Jeong, who was appointed through an external public recruitment process, resigned. It is analyzed that it would be burdensome to leave the head position of the National Investigation Headquarters vacant for at least a month, which is the minimum time required to appoint a new chief through another external recruitment. The fact that internal personnel selection had been consistently discussed internally since the previous appointment process adds credibility to this speculation.

Among internal police candidates, Woo Jong-su, Commissioner of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency (Chief Superintendent), and Choi Joo-won, Commissioner of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency (Chief Superintendent), have been continuously mentioned as potential next chiefs of the National Investigation Headquarters. Both boast long investigative careers as 'investigation experts' and have extensive experience in policy formulation and overall management of investigations. Additionally, they are evaluated to have no issues integrating with the police leadership, which includes many graduates from the Korean National Police University such as Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun.

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency

Criticism of Inadequate Personnel Screening... Responsibility of Police Commissioner Also Raised

There is a growing voice that the personnel screening system, which failed to identify the candidate’s child’s history of school violence, must be addressed. The Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters is a high-ranking official appointed directly by the President, and personnel screening involves not only the police but also the Presidential Office, Ministry of Justice, and National Intelligence Service. Although responsibilities are divided, the police refused to disclose the extent of their background checks. A National Police Agency official said, "It is difficult to provide specific details regarding personnel screening."

Last month, after document screening and physical examinations of applicants for the National Investigation Headquarters chief position, the National Police Agency conducted a comprehensive evaluation on the 17th and selected Attorney Jeong as the final candidate among three applicants. During this process, the agency confirmed Attorney Jeong’s disciplinary record from his time as a prosecutor but reportedly failed to verify any disqualifying factors related to his family, including his child. A police official stated, "Since it concerns the child’s private life, there were limitations in identifying such matters during the screening process."

If the son’s school violence had remained a school issue, the responsibility for inadequate screening might have been lessened. However, considering that Attorney Jeong, as the legal guardian of his son, even filed a lawsuit four years ago to cancel the disciplinary transfer, it is difficult to understand how this was not known. Consequently, responsibility is also expected to be raised against Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, who recommended Attorney Jeong for the position.

Attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who was appointed as the 2nd Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters but abruptly resigned due to a school violence issue involving his child [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong Soon-shin: "I will live with reflection"... Police Face Growing Confusion

Attorney Jeong was appointed on the 24th by President Yoon Seok-yeol as the first Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters under the current administration. He is a former prosecutor who worked alongside President Yoon at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. This led to internal police criticism suggesting that the Presidential Office might have had Attorney Jeong in mind from the beginning when conducting the public recruitment process for the National Investigation Headquarters chief.

Meanwhile, the unprecedented situation of the National Investigation Headquarters chief expressing his intention to resign just one day after his appointment due to his child’s school violence issue has intensified confusion within the police. The Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters commands over 30,000 investigative police officers nationwide, including those in 18 provincial police agencies and local police stations. Until the next appointment is finalized, these 30,000 investigative officers nationwide will have to operate without a leader, bearing a significant burden.

Previously, Attorney Jeong’s son was confirmed to have enrolled in a prestigious private high school in 2017 and bullied a classmate, A, for nearly a year, resulting in a transfer order by the school violence committee. The victim reportedly attempted extreme measures due to derogatory and dismissive remarks. Despite this, Attorney Jeong’s side filed an administrative lawsuit to cancel the transfer decision by the school violence committee and lost in all court proceedings, including the first trial, second trial, and Supreme Court, over approximately nine months.

In a statement expressing his resignation, Attorney Jeong said, "I apologize for the issue concerning my son and once again ask for forgiveness from the victim and their parents," adding, "My entire family will live with deep reflection."