"Ministry of the Interior and Safety Creates Police Puppet Organization by Establishing Police Bureau"

Shinsangsu National Public Officials Labor Union Police Agency Branch Chairman "Police Must Maintain Political Neutrality"

Relay of 'Opposition to the Establishment of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Police Bureau' Promotional Activities fr

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is trying to turn the police organization into a government puppet by establishing a Police Bureau."

Shin Ssang-su, chairman of the National Public Officials Labor Union Police Agency Branch, stated this on the 28th at a rally for the 'Opposition to the Establishment of the Police Bureau by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety' held in front of Songjeong Station in Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Chairman Shin pointed out, "If the police investigative authority has become excessive through the complete repeal of prosecution's investigative rights, the focus should be on controlling investigative power, but the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is trying to take control of the entire police organization."

He said, "Police officers at the rank of superintendent general and above are recommended by the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency and then proposed to the president by the Minister of the Interior and Safety," adding, "However, since a personnel support division has been created within the Police Bureau to handle personnel affairs, it appears that they intend to take both the recommendation and proposal rights."

A representative example of this is when Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min individually met and 'interviewed' six candidates for the position of Commissioner General of the National Police Agency at the end of May.

He expressed concern that as the Minister of the Interior and Safety, a political appointee, strengthens personnel authority within the police, the police organization will become loyal to the 'upper authority,' potentially undermining political neutrality.

Chairman Shin argued, "Within the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor's Bureau, starting from the head of the bureau, is guaranteed some degree of recommendation rights by the prosecution, but the Police Bureau intends for the Minister of the Interior and Safety to wield both recommendation and proposal rights."

He also said, "If they had discussed improving the system by strengthening the status of the Police Commission within the current framework, the police would not have reacted so vehemently like wildfire."

He added, "They keep saying the police need to be controlled, but if the status of the National Police Commission is strengthened, democratic control is sufficiently possible. Minister Lee is trying to intervene because he claims the National Police Commission cannot fulfill its role as a deliberative and decision-making body, and his intention is clear."

Chairman Shin plans to continue the 'National Public Campaign Opposing the Establishment of the Police Bureau' until the 29th to prepare democratic control measures for the National Police Agency.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Police Agency and Jeonnam Police Agency plan to hold sessions at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively on the same day, chaired by their commissioners, to gather internal opinions regarding the establishment of the Police Bureau.

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