Police Bureau Personnel Selection Begins... First Director Jo Ji-ho Mentioned as Director of Public Safety Information Bureau

Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The personnel selection process for the Police Bureau under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which will be launched on the 2nd of next month, began on the 27th. Jo Jiho, Director of the Public Safety Information Bureau at the National Police Agency, is strongly considered as the first Police Bureau Chief.

The Police Bureau staff will consist of 13 members: 12 police officers and 1 civilian employee. Among the police officers, the positions include ▲1 Superintendent General ▲2 Senior Superintendents ▲4 Superintendents ▲1 Chief Inspector ▲4 Inspectors. The civilian employee will be one Grade 4 public official. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said in a briefing on the previous day, "We plan to appoint as Police Bureau Chief someone who is trusted within the police and has a deep understanding of personnel affairs and the autonomous police system," adding, "The Personnel Division Chief will be an expert, and the Autonomous Support Division Chief will be someone with a deep understanding of autonomous police work." However, he drew a clear line by stating that "there is absolutely no intention to appoint an investigation expert as the first Police Bureau Chief or division chiefs."

The National Police Agency is said to have narrowed down the dispatched personnel candidates to three times the number of positions in line with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's moves. The Police Agency plans to submit the candidate list for dispatched personnel to the Ministry as soon as the review is completed. Jo Jiho (6th class of the Korean National Police University) is mentioned as the first Police Bureau Chief. Director Jo is a representative 'personnel expert' within the police and has experience participating in President Yoon Seok-yeol's transition committee. However, given the current administration's policy of excluding the Korean National Police University and the clear opposition, there is a high possibility that another figure will be appointed. Minister Lee also said, "We are considering various career paths for candidates for Police Bureau Chief."

Within the police, there is caution about being dispatched to the newly established Police Bureau. This is because it may go against the internal organizational atmosphere that has opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau. A police official said, "Opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau has become more intense after Minister Lee's 'coup d'?tat' remark," adding, "It was a statement that touched the emotions of all police officers, so being dispatched to the Police Bureau under such circumstances could personally be a burden."

However, there are quite a few police officers who hope to be dispatched to the Police Bureau. One police executive said, "Even if I am labeled a traitor, the Police Bureau is definitely a position for promotion," adding, "If they just call me, I think I would go (to the Police Bureau)." A police officer who is not eligible for this Police Bureau personnel selection because of the rank of Sergeant also said, "If they tell me to go, I will definitely go," adding, "(The Police Bureau) will be another path to success."

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