Opposition Parties Launch Full-Scale Attack on Nomination of Seoul Police Chief
Public Administration Committee Chair: "This Is a Challenge to the People"
Opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea, the Party for Justice and Innovation, and the Basic Income Party strongly criticized Park Hyun-soo, Acting Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and other senior personnel appointments on the 18th. Lee Ho-young, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated that if Park is reclassified as a suspect in the rebellion case, personnel measures will be taken.
At the plenary session of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Lee responded to Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in’s question, “How will you handle the vacancy if Acting Commissioner Park is reclassified as a suspect?” by saying, “If he is reclassified as a suspect, personnel measures will be taken.”
Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young criticized, “Acting Commissioner Park was asked to submit phone records with public officials around the time of the emergency martial law, but he refused,” adding, “Isn’t submitting phone records the easiest method?”
Lawmaker Yoon pointed out, “If you are confident and have nothing to hide, you should submit them,” and said, “Why can’t you do even that? Don’t just talk, prove it.”
In response to Democratic Party lawmaker Mo Kyung-jong’s question, “What will you do if someone else causes an unprecedented incident?” Acting Commissioner Park said, “We will respond according to the law and principles.”
When asked, “Does ‘law and principles’ mean following orders from superiors?” Park replied, “That is not necessarily the case.”
Regarding the question, “What will you do if you refuse an arrest warrant issued by the court?” Park said, “That will also be handled according to the law and principles.”
In response to Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jung-hyun’s question, “You spoke three times with Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho; did you have no knowledge of the martial law?” Park said, “It is completely unrelated to martial law,” and added, “I have sufficiently explained this to the investigative authorities.”
When asked, “How did you assist then-Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min?” Park replied, “There was a situation review meeting chaired by the minister,” and said, “I reported on the police situation.”
When criticized, “You had a meeting with Minister Lee but did not get involved, is that correct?” Park explained, “That meeting was an open meeting with all department heads and bureau chiefs at the time.”
When Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Bu-nam asked whether Park agreed that emergency martial law constitutes the crime of rebellion, Park said, “The trial regarding whether it is rebellion is ongoing,” and added, “It is not appropriate for me to comment.”
Regarding whether he had any phone calls with former Minister Lee, Commissioner Jo, and others after the investigation into the emergency martial law began, Park said, “I do not have a clear memory.”
Shin Jeong-hoon, Chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee, said regarding the senior police personnel appointments, “This situation is like challenging the people,” and added, “Who made these appointments will be revealed in detail. These are inappropriate appointments,” and said, “This must naturally be restored to the original state.”
Chair Shin said, “Acting Commissioner Park denies any charges related to the rebellion incident, but he was the busiest,” and added, “He assisted former Minister Lee and managed the situation. Someone in such a position should not try to easily get away.”
Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, controversy arose when Park Hyun-soo, Director of the Police Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was appointed as the Seoul Police Commissioner on the 7th. Acting Commissioner Park was appointed to key positions such as the Personnel Verification Team of the Presidential Transition Committee and the National Situation Room of the Presidential Office under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, as well as Director of the Police Intelligence Bureau and Director of the Police Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
It was revealed that immediately after the martial law declaration, Acting Commissioner Park had multiple phone calls with former Minister Lee, Commissioner Jo, and Police Security Bureau Director Im Jeong-ju.
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