Unprecedented Gyeongran (警亂)... Yoon's 'Yellow Card'

-Yoon on Police Collective Rebellion: "Serious National Discipline Disorder, Deep Concern... Basic Order Must Not Be Shaken"
-Preemptive Message to Block Additional Collective Actions... Deliberation and Approval of Police Bureau Establishment Enforcement Decree at Cabinet Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 26th, President Yoon Seok-yeol strongly warned frontline police officers' collective opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau as a "serious disruption of national discipline." This came as the government and police executives, including chiefs of police stations nationwide, are heading toward a head-to-head confrontation, with President Yoon taking a tough stance. At the Cabinet meeting that day, an enforcement decree to establish the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was approved. The conflict is expected to deepen further as the ruling and opposition parties clash politically.

On the morning of the 26th, President Yoon, while heading to the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul, told reporters, "Like all citizens, I have deep concerns about the collective actions of the heads of public safety agencies," emphasizing this point. He particularly stated, "National defense and public safety are fundamental state affairs, and the ultimate commander and supervisor is the President," adding, "Although the Police Bureau establishment plan will be reviewed at the Cabinet meeting today, the basic order and discipline of the nation must not be shaken."

This is the first time President Yoon has directly expressed his position on this issue. The previous day, he only gave a general statement on his way to work, saying, "I understand that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency will take the necessary measures well." However, despite the government and police leadership responding with a tough stance, frontline police officers' opposition continues, and as the issue expands into public opinion battles and political controversies, it is interpreted that President Yoon directly presented the government's consistent position.

There is also an analysis that this message aims to preemptively block further collective actions by frontline police officers. Following the suspension order issued to Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-young, who led the nationwide police chiefs' meeting on the 23rd, mid- and junior-level officers such as inspectors and lieutenants have also announced plans to hold meetings.

The dispute between the relevant ministry and the political sphere is also intensifying. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min used the term "blindly following" on his way to work that day, describing the spread of police collective opposition as "extremely dangerous." Minister Lee pointed out that the police, who "can possess weapons," gathered in disobedience to orders and suggested a tough response by saying, "I believe the National Police Agency will strictly investigate the illegality and take subsequent measures."

Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "The military's insubordination and the police's insubordination are the same," asserting, "No insubordination or collective insubordination will ever be tolerated." On the other hand, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office and criticized President Yoon's remark on "disruption of national discipline," saying, "Who is truly causing the disruption of national order? If the President had managed state affairs stably, would this situation have arisen?"

That day, the government held a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to review and approve the amendment to the enforcement decree for establishing the Police Bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. With the original plan passed, the Police Bureau will be promulgated and enforced on the 2nd of next month. The command regulation draft is a ministerial ordinance and only requires review by the Ministry of Government Legislation. Coincidentally, President Yoon will receive a briefing from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in the afternoon, following the Ministry of Justice. There is a high possibility that President Yoon will deliver a separate message regarding the establishment of the Police Bureau and the police officers' opposition. Both ministries are responsible for judging illegal acts by public officials, and Ministers Han Dong-hoon and Lee Sang-min are considered representative "star ministers" holding strong influence since the new government began, so the exclusive meeting between them and President Yoon is attracting significant attention.

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