The Next Police Commissioner Nominee Approaching Soon... Who Will Be the Helmsman in This Time of Great Upheaval?

The Crucial Task of Completing the Adjustment of Prosecution and Police Investigation Rights and the Introduction of Autonomous Police
Jang Ha-yeon, Lee Yong-pyo, Kim Chang-ryong 'Three-Way Battle'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The next head of the police, facing a period of great upheaval, is expected to be announced as early as next week. Jang Ha-yeon, Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, Lee Yong-pyo, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, are being mentioned as strong candidates.

The person who will lead the police organization as the successor to current Commissioner General Min Gap-ryong will be entrusted with the important task of completing the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police, as well as the introduction of the autonomous police system. All three candidates currently being discussed are graduates of the Korean National Police University and have experience as heads of provincial police agencies. Having experienced personnel management and operations as provincial commissioners and having worked in key departments within the police, it is widely viewed inside and outside the police that it would not be surprising whichever candidate is appointed.

Deputy Commissioner Jang is a representative 'intelligence expert' within the police, having served as head of the National Police Agency’s Intelligence Division 4 and as director of the Intelligence Bureau. Having served as Commissioner of the Gwangju Police Agency and promoted to Commissioner General in December last year, he has been pushing police reform tasks at headquarters, making him a suitable candidate to handle current issues such as investigative authority adjustment and autonomous policing. Notably, both former Commissioner General Lee Cheol-sung and current Commissioner General Min were promoted from Deputy Commissioner General to Commissioner General, making Jang a strong candidate in that lineage. His promotion to Senior Commissioner and Commissioner General under the current administration, having undergone personnel screening twice, is also seen as a strength.

Commissioner Lee of Seoul, who has overseen Seoul’s public safety since July last year, has shown determination to eradicate crimes against women, such as the investigation of the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' case, and has been praised for appropriately responding to situations related to COVID-19, including mask fraud and hoarding. A native of Namhae, Gyeongnam, and a senior by one class to Commissioner Min as a 3rd class graduate of the Korean National Police University, concerns about 'class reversal' have arisen. However, since the police class culture is not as strict as in the legal profession and considering the current administration’s personnel policy of breaking seniority and tenure, the appointment of Commissioner Lee is fully possible.

Commissioner Kim of Busan, from Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, is known to have close ties with President Moon Jae-in. He served as an administrative officer in the Blue House Security Secretary’s Office during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, when Moon was the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs. His extensive experience across the National Police Agency headquarters, provincial agencies, and overseas postings is a strong point. Given the precedent of former Commissioner General Lee Seong-han, who was appointed directly from the Busan Police Agency, the possibility of a surprise appointment cannot be ruled out. The appointment of the Commissioner General goes through the Blue House’s announcement of the nominee, recommendation by the Police Commission, confirmation hearings in the National Assembly, and is formally appointed by the President. Commissioner Min’s term ends on the 23rd of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.