If Early, Late June Yoon Administration's 'Second Senior Police Personnel Appointment'... Major Changes Expected

Senior Police Personnel Changes Conducted in June-July
One Month Required from Chief Superintendent to Superintendent to Senior Superintendent

The government is expected to carry out high-ranking police personnel changes, including the transfer of Senior Commissioner of Police, as early as next month. Considering variables such as the movement of Kim Gwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as well as those in Busan and Incheon, a moderate-scale reshuffle is anticipated.

According to the National Police Agency on the 29th, the government plans to conduct transfers and promotions for Senior Commissioners of Police, Commissioners of Police, and Senior Superintendents of Police from late June to early July. A National Police Agency official stated, "Promotions for Senior Commissioners of Police, Commissioners of Police, and Senior Superintendents of Police will be carried out sequentially," adding, "Personnel changes are expected to be implemented between late June and early July."

High-ranking police personnel changes occur in the order of Senior Commissioner of Police → Commissioner of Police → Senior Superintendent of Police, and it takes about a month to complete all personnel changes. Along with this, it has been confirmed that position assignments for Superintendents of Police currently undergoing training will also be conducted simultaneously.

The Senior Commissioner of Police is the rank directly below the Commissioner General of Police, who is the head of the police. Looking at the timing of personnel changes over the past three years, high-ranking police personnel changes have typically been carried out between June and August. They took place in early June 2022, early July 2021, and early August 2020. However, in 2020, the timing was slightly delayed as high-ranking personnel changes occurred immediately after the appointment of Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong.

Variables such as Seoul Commissioner Indictment and Busan-Incheon Transfers

The variables in this high-ranking personnel reshuffle include ▲whether the Seoul Commissioner will be indicted ▲the transfer of Busan and Incheon Commissioners who have served for more than one year ▲and the transfer of Deputy Commissioner Jo Ji-ho of the National Police Agency.

First, Kim, who is currently facing charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury related to the Itaewon disaster, is highly likely to be replaced. Depending on whether Kim is indicted, his transfer location will vary, but considering that his term will reach one year next month, the prevailing view is that he will be moved from the Seoul Commissioner position. If Kim is not indicted, he will be transferred to another provincial police agency among the seven Senior Commissioner positions. If indicted, the government may take discretionary measures such as placing him on standby or suspending his position.

Woo Cheol-moon, Commissioner of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and Lee Yang-sang, Commissioner of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, both appointed in June 2022 and having served for one year, are also expected to be transferred. Additionally, Deputy Commissioner Jo may also be transferred to another provincial police agency. Kim Soon-ho, Superintendent of the Korean National Police University, who is scheduled to retire this December, may also vacate his position if he enters a merit leave. If this happens, except for Woo Jong-su, Head of the National Investigation Headquarters, and Hong Ki-hyun, Commissioner of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, the other Senior Commissioner positions are likely to see transfers.

In this government, high-ranking police positions are being filled by a diverse group including graduates of the Korean National Police University, civil service exam passers, and executive candidates. Currently, among the seven Senior Commissioners of Police, three are from the Korean National Police University: Deputy Commissioner Jo Ji-ho, Busan Commissioner Woo Cheol-moon, and Gyeonggi Nambu Commissioner Hong Ki-hyun. Others include those who passed the civil service exam, executive candidates, and those recruited as sergeants. Many hail from the Gyeongbuk and Ulsan regions.

After the replacement of the Seoul Commissioner, if some personnel are transferred, it is expected that one or two Commissioners of Police will be promoted in subsequent personnel changes. Leading candidates for promotion to Senior Commissioner of Police include Kim Do-hyung, Commissioner of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency (executive candidate, Samcheok, Gangwon), who was dispatched to the Presidential Transition Committee, and Kim Byung-woo, Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination (Korean National Police University Class 8, Andong, Gyeongbuk), who served as a police manager under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.