Police Agency Responds to Controversy Over Reversal of Senior Superintendent Appointment: "Simple Mistake... Lack of Communication"

On the 21st, when the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police System Improvement Advisory Committee is scheduled to announce recommendations on police control measures, the police flag is fluttering in the wind at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Police System Improvement Advisory Committee will announce the recommendations on this day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency reiterated its explanation that the reversal of the appointment of the Superintendent General just two hours after the announcement was "an incident caused by a mistake from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety."

A National Police Agency official held a briefing on the morning of the 22nd and said, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Security Policy Officer posted a personnel draft that was not final on the internal network, but later contacted us saying 'this is not the final version'." The official added, "The initial personnel draft sent by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was one of the drafts prepared before the final confirmation."

Regarding the background of this incident, he explained, "Communication with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was not smooth, and the police side's verification was insufficient." When asked why the Ministry sent a previous version rather than the final draft, he said, "This is a matter the police cannot know and should be asked to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety."

Earlier, the police announced the appointment of 28 Superintendent Generals around 7:15 p.m. the previous day. However, an unprecedented situation occurred around 9:30 p.m., about two hours after the announcement, when the appointments of seven individuals were reversed. The official emphasized that this incident was a simple mistake, not a reversal of personnel decisions. It was also reported that the initially announced personnel draft had not even received approval from the Presidential Office.

However, questions and criticism arose regarding the fact that no corrective action was taken for two hours despite announcing an incorrect final draft that had not been approved by the Presidential Office. In response, the National Police Agency official explained, "It took that much time to recognize that the initial personnel draft was not final and to receive and post the final draft again from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety."

When asked whether the National Police Agency Commissioner failed to properly exercise the right to recommend in this personnel matter, the official responded, "Opinions were sufficiently expressed," adding, "While opinions cannot be 100% identical, most were accommodated."

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