Focus on Organizational Stability and Responsible Investigation System... The Significance Behind the Internal Appointment of the National Police Agency Chief

Nam Gu-jun, Gyeongnam Police Chief, Sole Recommendation as First Head of National Investigation Headquarters
Commanding 30,000 Investigative Police Officers
Limitations of External Leadership Evident
Choice Aimed at Early Stabilization
Immediate Task: 'Restoring Trust in Investigations'

National Investigation Headquarters. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] After much deliberation, the inaugural head of the National Investigation Headquarters (Guksubon) was ultimately decided to be an internal appointment. On the 22nd, the National Police Agency announced that Nam Gu-jun (53), Chief of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, was solely recommended as the head of Guksubon.

Although the presidential appointment procedure remains, considering that the National Police Agency has been continuously coordinating the personnel selection with the Blue House, Nam’s appointment is seen as certain. The 'symbol' of police reform has thus been decided as an internal promotion appointment.

The head of Guksubon plays a crucial role overseeing the National Investigation Headquarters, which represents a major transformation in the police force alongside the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police and the implementation of autonomous police. Although the head of Guksubon is appointed at the rank of Police Commissioner, which is below the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, they are legally granted virtually independent investigative authority, and their influence is regarded as comparable to that of individual power institutions. For this reason, attention was inevitably focused on the selection of the inaugural head of Guksubon.

The National Police Agency issued a recruitment announcement for the head of Guksubon from the 1st to the 11th of last month and sought candidates. At that time, five people applied, including former senior police officers and legal professionals. Given the symbolic significance of being the first head of Guksubon and the possibility of the first external appointment to a senior police position, there was speculation that an external figure might be selected with an emphasis on 'police reform.'

Nam Gu-joon, Chief of Gyeongnam Police Agency, solely recommended for the position of Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters. / Photo by National Police Agency

However, the decision ultimately leaned toward an internal appointment. When recommending Chief Nam, the National Police Agency explained, "The head of Guksubon must have responsibility and expertise, as they oversee more than 30,000 investigative police officers nationwide and command 18 provincial police chiefs." It is interpreted that they concluded an internal appointment is more suitable than an external one to stabilize the organization at its inception and to demonstrate nationwide leadership.

Furthermore, if an external figure were appointed, organizational control would inevitably be weaker, and it would be burdensome to entrust overall investigation leadership to someone who has not experienced police investigative sites or has been away from such sites for a long time. This comprehensive judgment appears to have led to the selection of Chief Nam, who is well-versed in police investigations.

Chief Nam is regarded as a representative 'investigation expert' within the police. During his tenure as Senior Superintendent, he served in key investigative positions such as head of the Investigation Division at Gyeongnam Police Agency, head of the Special Investigation Division and Criminal Division at the National Police Agency, and after promotion to Police Commissioner, he held posts including Director of the Cyber Safety Bureau at the National Police Agency and Chief of the Gyeongnam Police Agency, gaining extensive practical and field experience. Notably, last year, he actively responded to related crimes while serving as Director of the Cyber Safety Bureau, overseeing the investigation of the so-called 'Telegram Nth Room' case.

If Chief Nam is finally appointed as head of Guksubon, the most urgent task is expected to be the completion of a 'responsible investigation system.' In a situation where trust in police investigations has been damaged by incidents such as the Jeong-in case and the assault on a taxi driver by Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, the immediate challenge is how to secure the professionalism and fairness of police investigations going forward.

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