Opposition's Fierce Criticism of Senior Police Personnel Appointments... Seoul Police Chief Acting "Acknowledges Lee Sang-min and Jo Ji-ho's Phone Call" (Comprehensive)

Park Hyunsoo Denies Allegations of Involvement in Martial Law
Public Administration Committee Chair Criticizes Police Appointments as "Concealing and Protecting the Insurrection"

On the 18th, opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea and the Party for Justice and Innovation launched a fierce attack on Park Hyun-soo, acting commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and other high-ranking personnel appointments.

Park Hyun-soo, Acting Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-sik criticized at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee plenary session, saying, "Acting Commissioner Park is someone who could at any time become a key suspect," and "If the special prosecutor law passes the National Assembly, he will be subject to investigation."

Lawmaker Lee said, "I believe it is right for Acting Commissioner Park to resign voluntarily," while Park stated, "I have not been involved in any way with the martial law." However, Park admitted to having multiple phone calls immediately after the martial law declaration with Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho, former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, and Police Agency Security Bureau Chief Im Jeong-ju.

Park underwent an additional witness investigation related to the martial law incident on the 15th. Since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration began, Park has been appointed to key positions including the personnel screening team of the Presidential Transition Committee, dispatched to the Presidential Office's National Situation Room, director of the Police Agency's Security Intelligence Bureau, and director of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police Bureau.

Lee Hae-sik, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Gwang-hee questioned Park about retweeting a post during his tenure as head of the New Media Public Relations Division at the Seoul Police Agency that stated, "Lee Jung-hee, leader of the Unified Progressive Party, not running for office seems to be the result of a politically reckless mistake." Park explained, "I received a new smart device and made a button operation mistake during the testing process."

Lawmaker Lee said, "That content is hard to find and was a highly sensitive political incident. It undermines the core value of political neutrality in the police organization," and sharply asked, "Did you get promoted rapidly with such a background?" Park responded about his rapid promotion, "I have nothing to say regarding personnel matters."

Lee Kwang-hee, Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

When Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon asked about the controversy over high-ranking police personnel appointments, Acting Police Commissioner Lee Ho-young said, "Since it is a government personnel matter, I have nothing to say."

Lawmaker Wi pointed out, "Personnel loyal to President Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party were selected. Acting Commissioner Park took 9 months to be promoted to Police Commissioner and 1 year and 4 months to Senior Police Commissioner," adding, "Deputy Commissioners Nam Je-hyun and Jo Jeong-rae were promoted in one year, and Deputy Commissioner Park Jong-seop in six months. The average time for promotion to Police Commissioner is three years; who would accept this?"

Regarding the question of whether Acting Commissioner Lee had received calls from Presidential Office officials before the police personnel appointments, he replied, "Not recently."

Wi Seong-gon, Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

Justice and Innovation Party lawmaker Jeong Chun-saeng pointed out suspicions regarding Acting Commissioner Park's involvement in important duties related to the insurrection, and Acting Commissioner Lee said, "I understand that sufficient explanations were given during the state audit. It would be best to wait for the investigation results. The recommendation was made after prior consultation with the acting Minister of the Interior and Safety."

Shin Jeong-hoon, chairman of the Public Administration and Security Committee, criticized the police personnel appointments, saying, "I do not understand whether this is a path to conceal and protect the insurrection or an effort to become a police force for the people," and warned, "Do not handle personnel matters as if it is okay to just let it slide. Everything will eventually be revealed."