Kim Chang-ryong, Chief of Busan Police, Appointed as Next Commissioner of National Police Agency... Major Responsibility in the Era of 'Completing Police Reform'

Adjustment of Investigation Authority and Autonomous Police System
Heavy Responsibility in Leading the Front

Police Union's Smooth Relationship Building
Internal Organizational Management as a Task

First Time in 7 Years: Busan Chief Promoted to Commissioner General
"Leader with an Open Mind" Praised

Kim Chang-ryong, Chief of Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. / Photo by Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] It was reported on the 25th that Kim Chang-ryong, Chief of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency (56), has been nominated as the successor to Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, whose term ends on the 23rd of next month. Kim, the nominee, will be entrusted with the important task of completing 'police reform,' including the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police and the introduction of the autonomous police system.

The Commissioner of the National Police Agency is appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior and Safety, with the consent of the Police Commission and after passing through the Prime Minister. The Police Commission was already convened at 5 p.m. on the same day, and the Blue House is expected to officially announce the nominee for the Commissioner as early as that afternoon. Afterward, the nominee will undergo a confirmation hearing in the National Assembly, and the President will formally appoint the Commissioner. The term is two years.

Kim, the nominee, is assigned the heavy responsibility of leading the police through a 'great transformation period,' including the expected implementation of the revised Criminal Procedure Act regarding the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police in the second half of this year. With the adjustment, prosecutorial supervision of investigations will be abolished, and the police will have primary investigative authority and the power to conclude investigations. Although the police's investigative authority will increase, they must maintain fairness and neutrality while demonstrating swift and professional investigative capabilities.

The autonomous police system, promoted to decentralize the potentially overgrown police power, is also a major task of police reform. The related bill (the full revision of the Police Act), which was automatically discarded due to the expiration of the 20th National Assembly's term, is expected to be reintroduced and discussed in the 21st National Assembly. Under the current Commissioner Min's administration, achievements in police reform and active responses to crimes against women have been highly evaluated, but organizational management issues such as police collusion, exemplified by the 'Burning Sun scandal,' have also been exposed. Although he earned the nickname 'Apple (Sago) Commissioner' for focusing on reflecting on past incidents during his term, he was also criticized for hindering the legitimate exercise of police authority. His style is close to that of a planner and a typical 'staff-type' leader, leading to some dissatisfaction with internal communication. In this regard, preventing police misconduct and establishing a harmonious relationship with the newly launched Police Workplace Council, as well as managing the police organization of about 140,000 personnel, will also be important roles for Kim, the nominee.

It is the first time in seven years since Lee Seong-han, former Commissioner of the National Police Agency during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2013, that a Busan Metropolitan Police Agency chief has been nominated as Commissioner. Compared to the last two Commissioners, both of whom were nominated from Deputy Commissioners of the National Police Agency, this can be seen as a 'dramatic appointment.' Behind this decision is a special relationship between Kim, the nominee, and President Moon. When Kim was dispatched as an administrative officer to the Blue House Security Secretary's Office during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, President Moon was the Senior Secretary for Civil Society. Because of this, President Moon highly regards Kim's abilities and has maintained a special relationship with him since then. This is interpreted as a judgment that Kim understands the current administration's state philosophy well. Born in Hapcheon County, Gyeongnam Province, he avoids criticism of 'regional favoritism toward Honam,' and since he is a classmate of the current Commissioner Min Gap-ryong, who is from the 4th class of the Korean National Police University, there is no reversal of seniority.

Meanwhile, Kim, the nominee, served as the first deputy commissioner of the Gyeongnam Police Agency, a liaison officer in Washington, USA, was promoted to Police Commissioner in December 2017, and served as Director of the National Police Agency's Public Safety Bureau and Chief of the Gyeongnam Police Agency. He was promoted to Senior Police Commissioner in July last year and took office as Chief of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. Having served twice as a provincial police chief, overseeing public safety in one region and gaining comprehensive experience in personnel and organizational management, is considered a strength. His two overseas postings in the USA and Brazil are also notable, and based on this, he is regarded within the police as an 'open-minded leader.'

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