Top Graduate of Police Academy... Kim Yong-hyun Successor as Minister of National Defense
Presidential Office "Ideal Candidate to Establish Advanced Security System"
On the morning of the 9th, at the briefing room of the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, Park Jong-jun, the newly appointed head of the Presidential Security Service, is seated while listening to the announcement by Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok during the personnel briefing. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Park Jong-jun, a former police officer and former deputy director of the Presidential Security Service, as the new head of the Presidential Security Service on the 9th.
Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning to announce this political appointment. Park is the second head of the Presidential Security Service under the Yoon administration.
Chief Jung described Park as "a standout figure within the police organization, having passed the civil service exam while attending the Police University as part of the 2nd class and graduating at the top of his class," and explained, "During his police career, he served in key planning and general coordination departments and rose to the position of deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency, leading efforts to ensure public safety and establish law and order."
He continued, "During his tenure as deputy director of the Presidential Security Service, he supported the stable governance of the president by implementing a meticulous and careful security system that allowed no margin for error," adding, "Based on his extensive experience in security operations and outstanding performance capabilities, he is the right person to respond to evolving security threats and to focus on the fundamental mission of ensuring the absolute safety of the protectee, as well as contributing to the establishment of an advanced security system."
Park expressed his thoughts, saying, "I feel a heavy responsibility in undertaking the grave duty of presidential security during such a critical time," and added, "In a presidential system, the safety of the head of state is directly linked to national security. I will do my utmost to perform my duties perfectly so that there is no gap in the president’s security."
Born in 1964, Park graduated at the top of his class from Gongju National University of Education High School and the Police University, and passed the 29th civil service exam as the youngest candidate. He has served as head of the investigation department at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, commissioner of the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, and deputy commissioner of the National Police Agency. During the Park Geun-hye administration, he served as deputy director of the Presidential Security Service from June 2013 to October 2015.
He ran unsuccessfully for the 19th and 20th National Assembly elections under Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party.
While many previous heads of the Presidential Security Service, including his predecessor Kim Yong-hyun, Minister of National Defense, were from military backgrounds, it is known that the Presidential Office sought a qualified candidate from the police ranks this time.
Park Jong-jun, the newly appointed Chief of the Presidential Security Service, is entering the personnel briefing held on the morning of the 9th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul, together with Jeong Jin-seok, the Chief of Staff to the President. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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