Chief Kim Dae-gi: "Police Chief Meeting Inappropriate... Not a Matter for the Presidential Office"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, sharply criticized the nationwide police station chiefs' meeting of superintendent-level officers held in opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau, saying, "I have been a public official for 35 years, and based on my past experience, I think it was an inappropriate act."

At a briefing held at the Yongsan Presidential Office building that afternoon, Kim said, "In the Republic of Korea, there are three very powerful agencies. They are more powerful than ministries."

He went on to mention the Prosecutor's Office, the National Police Agency, and the National Tax Service as the powerful agencies, stating, "The Prosecutor's Office has the Prosecutor's Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, and the National Tax Service has the Tax Policy Office under the Ministry of Economy and Finance," adding, "Only the police do not have such a bureau."

He continued, "Why is there none for the police? Until now, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs handled it. But the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs has disappeared," and explained the necessity of establishing the Police Bureau by saying, "Now the police have become very powerful regarding the 'complete repeal of prosecution's investigative rights' (Geomsu Wanbak). Among the three agencies, they might become the most powerful."

Furthermore, he said, "I think the police need checks and balances with the Cabinet members," adding, "I believe the Ministry of the Interior and Safety thinks so as well."

However, when asked by reporters whether President Yoon had given related instructions, he replied, "I don't think it is something the President should intervene in," and added, "There are issues related to public service discipline, so I think it should be under the jurisdiction of the National Police Agency, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and if necessary, the Office for Government Policy Coordination."

About 190 police station chiefs nationwide held an on- and offline meeting at the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, the day before, expressing opinions that the legislative process for establishing the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety should be temporarily suspended and that time is needed for reflection to build social consensus.

After the nationwide police station chiefs' meeting was held, the National Police Agency stated, "Despite urging restraint and ordering disbandment, the meeting was forcibly held. We recognize this as a serious situation and will review violations of service regulations and take strict measures against participants."

Immediately after the meeting, Ryu Sam-young, chief of Ulsan Jungbu Police Station who effectively led the meeting, was placed on standby duty under the Public Safety Department's Police Planning, Information, and Equipment Division of the Ulsan Police Agency.

Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on the morning of the 24th regarding Ryu's standby duty, saying, "Meetings of prosecutors and meetings of chief prosecutors are allowed, so why are police station chiefs' meetings not allowed? Is this something that warrants disciplinary action?"

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