Yoon Hee-geun "Consensus Formed on Shared Goals"... Medical Association "Confirmed Differences in Position"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, said on the 21st after meeting with representatives of the National Police Workplace Council, "We reached a consensus that we share the same goals."

After concluding the 'Meeting with National Workplace Council Representatives' held at the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon, Yoon told reporters, "We shared thoughts on what the police should do for the public regardless of rank." He added, "I heard vivid stories from the field." The meeting started at 11 a.m. and lasted for over four hours until around 3:20 p.m.

Regarding the National Police Commission's criticism the day before that there were procedural flaws in the draft regulation on the Commissioner General's command under the Minister of the Interior and Safety, Yoon said, "I believe the National Police Commission can certainly express such opinions," but added, "It may not be appropriate for me to respond to the Commission's criticism." On the 'National Police Chiefs Meeting' planned by police officers at the superintendent level on the 23rd in protest against the establishment of the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, he said, "I believe various voices can be expressed freely," but also noted, "Whether that is the best course of action needs to be reviewed."

On the other hand, Min Kwan-gi, the representative of the Chungbuk Police Agency Workplace Council who attended the meeting, said, "There were differences of opinion regarding the Police Bureau, and it seems we were at an impasse." However, he added, "It seems there was positive consideration regarding the internal field officers' requests and the parts the Ministry of the Interior and Safety promised to address." The parts Min mentioned refer to long-standing police demands such as the increase in public security rank salaries and the multiple rank system.

Min firmly opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau. He said, "The Police Bureau is a controversial issue under current law," and "We will continue to oppose it." However, he added, "Regarding what to do after the establishment of the Police Bureau, the police leadership and field officers should discuss and respond accordingly." The Workplace Council plans to conduct a public campaign opposing the establishment of the Police Bureau at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station from the 25th to the 29th.

The meeting was arranged after the police leadership, focusing on resolving internal confusion caused by the establishment of the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, proposed a communication opportunity to the Workplace Council, which had strongly opposed it through actions such as head shaving and fasting. Ten people, including nominee Yoon, attended from the police leadership side. From the Workplace Council side, 20 representatives elected from each city and provincial police agency Workplace Council, led by Yeokhwan Yeo, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Workplace Council, participated.

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