Today's unprecedented nationwide police chiefs meeting... Proceeded despite leadership's objections

Discussion on Response Measures Regarding the Establishment of the Police Bureau

The police flag of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency is fluttering in the wind. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A 'National Police Chiefs Meeting' where police chiefs at the superintendent level gather to discuss response measures regarding the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will be held on the 23rd. Despite opposition from the police leadership, the superintendent-level officers have decided to proceed with the meeting.

The first to propose this meeting was Ryu Sam-yeong, Superintendent of Ulsan Jungbu Police Station. On the 18th, he posted on the police internal network demanding the police leadership hold a national police chiefs meeting, and on the 20th, he posted again announcing that the meeting would be held at 2 p.m. that day at the Police Talent Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam. Superintendent Ryu stated on a radio broadcast the previous day, "We will listen to frontline opinions on whether the establishment of the Police Bureau is legally and procedurally valid and timely, and discuss how to respond."

This is the first time that superintendent-level officers have convened a meeting on a specific topic. It is known that about 500 participants have joined the group chat created to organize the meeting among superintendent-level officers. The total number of superintendents nationwide is approximately 630. They have reportedly been discussing attendance and agenda items in the chatroom. Dozens of superintendents are expected to attend the meeting in person, while most will participate via video conference.

Earlier, on the 21st, Yoon Hee-geun, the nominee for Commissioner of the National Police Agency, sent an email to superintendent-level officers urging them to "carefully consider the need for prudent judgment and execution, reflecting on their position and duties as perceived by the public," discouraging the meeting. The day before, Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, sent a text message to superintendent-level officers in Seoul, asking them to "coldly judge and carefully consider the path and direction to gain public trust and support from the public’s perspective."

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