With Two Days Until Launch, National Investigation Headquarters Operates Under Acting 'Investigation Planning and Coordination Officer' System for Now

Director General recruitment undecided internally or externally
Possible after appointment of the Corruption Investigation Office chief
Appointment expected as early as late January

Organizational Chart of the National Police Agency Changing with the Launch of the National Investigation Headquarters.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The head of the National Investigation Headquarters (NIH), which oversees police investigation affairs, remains uncertain just two days before its launch. For the time being, the Investigation Planning and Coordination Officer, who holds the rank of Police Commissioner, will serve as the acting head of the headquarters.

According to multiple sources at the National Police Agency on the 30th, as of now, it has not been decided whether the NIH chief will be selected internally or externally. Since the final appointing authority for the NIH chief is the President, some speculate that related procedures will only proceed after the appointment of the Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The NIH chief is appointed at the rank of Police Superintendent General; the National Police Agency Commissioner recommends a candidate, the Minister of the Interior and Safety proposes the appointment, and the President appoints the candidate via the Prime Minister.

Accordingly, the NIH, which will launch on January 1 next year, will operate under an acting head system without a permanent chief from the start. A senior police official said, "According to the NIH organization, the Investigation Planning and Coordination Officer will serve as the acting head." The Investigation Planning and Coordination Officer, who holds the rank of Police Commissioner, is a newly established position created with the launch of the NIH and oversees support tasks for investigative police, including investigation administration and planning. The specific acting head is expected to be identified in the upcoming personnel reshuffle of Police Commissioners.

However, concerns have been raised that if the leadership vacancy continues for an extended period amid the inevitable confusion caused by operating a newly established organization, gaps in command, control, and supervision of police investigations may occur. Ultimately, the solution is the prompt appointment of a permanent chief. Inside and outside the police, there is strong expectation that the NIH chief will be appointed externally. This is because the symbolic significance of appointing an external inaugural NIH chief is high in terms of strengthening democratic control over the police as part of 'police reform.'

In this case, the actual appointment is expected to take place around late January or early February next year. The recruitment process, including document screening, physical examination, and comprehensive evaluation, requires time. If external recruitment is decided, a separate comprehensive evaluation committee will be formed, and at least half of the five or more committee members must be appointed from outside the police, which also takes time. A National Police Agency official explained, "The comprehensive evaluation committee will be formed when external recruitment is decided."

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