Kang Seung-gyu: "Jeon Du-hwan-style Police Bureau? Framing Attack... Prosecution and Police Meetings Are Different"

Kang Seung-gyu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society, Publicly Criticizes Police Chief Meeting
"Disciplinary Action for Defying Superior Orders in Meeting, No Higher-Level Intervention"
"Criticism of the Security Headquarters is Malicious... Communication Needed Within Police"

Kang Seung-gyu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] Kang Seung-gyu, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, rebutted criticism on the 25th that the establishment of the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is regressive, calling it a "framing attack." He dismissed claims that the presidential office was behind the pressure to disband the meeting as "mere speculation."

On the same day, Kang appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said that the opposition party's criticism of the Police Bureau is "framing using past terms like 'Jeon Du-hwan style' and 'Security Headquarters,' blocking communication between the new government's police administrative reform plan and the public."

Regarding the criticism that only meetings convened by the police, unlike the prosecution, were subject to discriminatory sanctions, Kang drew a clear line, saying, "(The nationwide police chiefs' meeting) is different in nature from meetings of ordinary prosecutors, chief prosecutors, or high prosecutors." He added, "At that time, meetings of chief prosecutors were a process of gathering prosecutors' opinions under the direction of the Prosecutor General during the 'complete prosecution reform' process. (The police chiefs' meeting) was held despite orders from superiors to raise objections to the already decided establishment of the Police Bureau, which frontline police chiefs opposed," criticizing the action.

Kang emphasized, "Communication is important. The establishment of the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is by no means intended to undermine police independence," and added, "If there are misunderstandings within the police, they should be resolved internally within the police organization. This is something the new Police Commissioner candidate and police executives should address." The enforcement ordinance for the establishment of the Police Bureau is scheduled to be promulgated and enforced on the 2nd of next month.

Meanwhile, as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety accelerates the establishment of the Police Bureau, internal conflicts and resistance within the police are intensifying. On the 23rd, about 190 police chiefs nationwide held a meeting demanding the suspension of related legislation, but disciplinary actions were taken against chiefs present at the scene for disobeying the Police Agency's order to disband the meeting. Ryu Sam-young, then chief of Ulsan Jungbu Police Station, who presided over the meeting and was placed on standby, is opposing the disciplinary action, calling it "abuse of authority."

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