"Could Be Exploited for Division..."... '140,000 Police Meeting' Ultimately Postponed

Gyeongsangnam-do Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The nationwide police meeting of 140,000 officers opposing the re-proposed establishment of the Police Bureau by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) will ultimately be postponed. Ryu Geun-chang, Police Inspector and head of the Yangdeok Substation at Masan Dongbu Police Station in Gyeongnam, who had expressed intentions to reinitiate the meeting, announced the postponement due to concerns that the meeting could be exploited for division.

On the morning of the 28th, Inspector Ryu stated through the police internal network, "The event opposing the MOIS's establishment of the Police Bureau, scheduled for the 30th, will be postponed," adding, "We could give Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min another excuse by allowing our hopes to be exploited for 'division' and other tactics." He continued, "In a world where even a few police officers sitting in a coffee shop chatting are publicly labeled as engaging in collective action, disobeying orders, or damaging dignity and disciplined accordingly, what can we do? Since I am organizing this alone, even if I call for punishment only for myself, it is unlikely to be accepted."

He also said, "I will inform you alone over the weekend about where and what I intended to do," and added, "There will be voices criticizing me for choosing postponement instead of pushing forward. I apologize and will accept strict reprimand."

Previously, on the 26th, Kim Seong-jong, Police Inspector at Gwangjin Police Station in Seoul, initially proposed the nationwide police meeting of 140,000 officers, including all substation chiefs and police box chiefs, but withdrew the proposal after one day. This was because Chief Superintendent Ryu Sam-young, who was placed on standby after attempting to hold a nationwide chiefs meeting, discouraged the meeting, saying, "Police officers organizing another gathering could cause public concern." On the same day, Inspector Ryu announced his intention to reinitiate the nationwide police meeting of 140,000 officers, stating he would gather even a small number of colleagues to create a dignified event.

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