Seoul Police Chief Kim Kwang-ho, National Police Agency Deputy Chief Yoon Hee-geun... Six Senior Police Officers Assigned New Positions

Police Academy Chief Song Jeong-ae, Former Police Officer - Park Ji-young, Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency
'Policy Expert' Woo Cheol-moon, Chief of Busan Police Agency - 'Investigation Expert' Lee Young-sang, Chief of Incheon Police Agency

Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (from left), Yoon Hee-geun, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Song Jeong-ae, President of the Korean National Police University, Woo Cheol-moon, Commissioner of Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Lee Young-sang, Commissioner of Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, Park Ji-young, Commissioner of Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency (all appointees) / Provided by the National Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 8th, the National Police Agency carried out personnel transfers for six Senior Superintendents General, including the appointment of Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of Ulsan Police Agency, as the new Chief of Seoul Police Agency. Yoon Hee-geun, Director of the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner General, and Song Jeong-ae, Director of the Personnel Planning Division of the National Police Agency, was appointed as the President of the Korean National Police University. Woo Cheol-moon, Planning and Coordination Officer of the National Investigation Headquarters, was appointed as Chief of Busan Police Agency; Lee Young-sang, Chief of Gyeongbuk Police Agency, as Chief of Incheon Police Agency; and Park Ji-young, Chief of Jeonnam Police Agency, as Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency.

On the morning of the same day, the National Police Agency completed consultation procedures with the local autonomous police committees and announced these personnel transfers for Senior Superintendents General. The appointees were promoted to Senior Superintendent General on the 24th of last month and the 2nd of this month. The Senior Superintendent General is the second-highest rank in the police hierarchy. Above it is the Commissioner General (Chief of the National Police Agency). Below are Superintendent General, Senior Superintendent, and Chief Superintendent in order. Police officers at the rank of Chief Superintendent or higher are appointed by the President after being recommended by the Minister of the Interior and Safety upon the recommendation of the Chief of the National Police Agency and the Prime Minister. Their appointment ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 10th at the Government Complex Seoul, presided over by Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Kim Kwang-ho, appointed as the Chief of Seoul Police Agency, considered the second-in-command after the Commissioner General, is a local native who grew up in Ulsan until high school. He graduated from Hakseong High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Social Welfare and passed the 35th Administrative Examination. After working at the Ministry of Unification for 10 years, he became a police officer in 2004 through a special recruitment as a Superintendent. He has served as Welfare Policy Officer of the National Police Agency, spokesperson, and Director of the Cyber Investigation Bureau. He was promoted to Superintendent General in June last year, served as Chief of Ulsan Police Agency, and has now been promoted to Senior Superintendent General.

Yoon Hee-geun, appointed as Deputy Commissioner General assisting the Commissioner General, is from Cheongju, Chungbuk, and is a 7th class graduate of the Korean National Police University. He has held positions such as Director of the Intelligence Division of Seoul Police Agency and Head of the Public Safety Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Division, establishing himself as a representative 'intelligence expert' within the police. After being promoted to Superintendent General in December last year, he rapidly advanced to Senior Superintendent General within six months and is known for his polished manners.

Song Jeong-ae, the only woman appointed as President of the Korean National Police University, started her career in 1981 as a patrol officer, the lowest rank in the police, and rose to Senior Superintendent General, making her a remarkable figure. Previously, the only woman to have risen from patrol officer to Senior Superintendent General was Lee Geum-hyung, former Chief of Busan Police Agency. She is the most senior female officer among approximately 20,000 female police officers and is regarded as a spiritual pillar. She has extensive experience in the Daejeon area, having served as Director of the Personnel Division, First Deputy Chief, and was appointed Chief of Daejeon Police Agency.

Woo Cheol-moon, appointed as Chief of Busan Police Agency, is from Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, and graduated from the Korean National Police University (7th class). As evidenced by his previous role as Director of Crime Prevention Policy at the National Police Agency, he is regarded as a 'policy expert' within the police. Lee Young-sang, appointed as Chief of Incheon Police Agency, is from Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, and entered the police force in 1992 as a 40th class police officer candidate. He has served as Director of the Cyber Terrorism Center of the National Police Agency and Head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of Seoul Police Agency, known as an 'investigation expert.' Park Ji-young, appointed as Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, who has handled multiple investigations related to Lee Jae-myung, Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea, is a 41st class police officer candidate and has served as Director of Inspection and President of the Central Police Academy.

With this personnel transfer, six out of seven Senior Superintendent General positions will be filled with new faces. Current Deputy Commissioner General Jin Gyo-hoon, Chief of Seoul Police Agency Choi Kwan-ho, and Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency Choi Seung-ryeol will all step down. If the existing Senior Superintendents General refuse the transfers, follow-up personnel actions such as standby appointments may occur, but typically, they leave the police organization after the personnel transfer. The remaining position, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters, is a two-year term according to the Police Act, and the current Chief Nam Gu-jun will serve until February next year.

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