Nominee Kim Chang-ryong for Commissioner of Police Agency Ahead of Confirmation Hearing... Must Address Doubts About Being the Right Person for Police Reform

No Experience in Investigation or Planning Functions
Entrusted with Major Responsibilities in Police Reform Including Investigation Authority Adjustment and Autonomous Police
Preparing for National Assembly Confirmation Hearing... Likely to Focus on Policy

Kim Chang-ryong, nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Kim Chang-ryong, Chief of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency (56), has been nominated as the next police chief responsible for public safety during the remaining two years of the Moon Jae-in administration. Following the official announcement from the Blue House, Kim is expected to refine his public safety policies in preparation for the National Assembly confirmation hearing.

According to the National Police Agency on the 27th, typically when a police chief nominee is announced, the nominee forms a confirmation hearing preparation team of about 10 members. Since Kim was nominated while serving as the Busan Police Chief, the preparation team will be organized at the Busan Police Agency. It is anticipated that the team will include Busan Police Agency staff as well as some personnel dispatched from the National Police Agency headquarters.

Attention is also focused on who will lead the preparation team. Usually, this role is held by an officer at the Senior Superintendent rank, which is interpreted as being one of the nominee’s most trusted figures and can secure an advantageous position for future promotion to Police Commissioner. For example, after Min Gap-ryong was nominated as police chief in 2018, Song Min-heon, then the Intelligence Review Officer who led the preparation team, was later promoted to Police Commissioner, served as Planning and Coordination Officer at headquarters, and was subsequently appointed Chief of the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency.

The preparation team is divided into sections responsible for developing various policies and visions and handling personal background matters to prepare for the hearing. Currently, Kim is known to have few personal flaws. His assets total approximately 440 million KRW, including an apartment in Amsa-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, jointly owned with his wife, which frees him from the multi-homeowner controversy often considered an 'Achilles' heel' for high-ranking officials in the current administration.

However, there remain policy areas that require scrutiny. The biggest challenges for the police currently are the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecutors and the establishment of the autonomous police system, completing the 'police reform.' Kim has limited experience in investigative and planning departments. Even without related functional experience, he must prove himself as the 'right person' to drive police reform. Given the attention on Kim’s past connections with President Moon Jae-in and concerns about the police’s 'political neutrality,' it is necessary to dispel such worries.

Meanwhile, with the nomination of the next police chief, once the Blue House submits the confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly, the Assembly will hold the hearing, and the president will formally appoint the nominee. The police chief can be appointed by the president regardless of whether the confirmation hearing report is adopted. Since the ruling party holds the majority in the 21st National Assembly, Kim’s confirmation hearing is expected to pass smoothly.

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