Jeong Sun-shin's Child's 'School Violence' Record... Police Agency Says "No Comments on Personnel Verification"

"Verification of Background Check Scope Difficult"

It was reported on the 25th that the police failed to identify during the personnel verification process that the son of lawyer Jeong Soon-shin, newly appointed as the head of the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Headquarters, was a perpetrator of school violence during his high school years.

Attorney Jeong Soon-shin appointed as the 2nd Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters [Image source=Yonhap News]

A police official said in a phone interview with this paper on the same day, "Under the current guidelines and regulations, we cannot confirm the extent to which the background check of the National Criminal Investigation Headquarters chief candidate is conducted." However, according to this paper's comprehensive investigation, under the current personnel verification system of the police agency, it is possible to identify disqualifying factors related to the candidate himself, including criminal records such as drunk driving, but it is reportedly difficult to verify information about the candidate's children.

The head of the National Criminal Investigation Headquarters is a senior official appointed directly by the president, and the personnel verification involves not only the police but also the presidential office, Ministry of Justice, National Intelligence Service, and others. Although responsibilities are divided, the police refused to disclose the extent of their background check responsibilities. A police official stated, "It is difficult to respond regarding personnel verification."

Previously, lawyer Jeong's son enrolled in a prestigious private high school in 2017 and bullied a classmate, A, for nearly a year. The victim reportedly attempted extreme measures due to derogatory and dismissive remarks. Eventually, lawyer Jeong's son was transferred by the decision of the school violence committee. However, lawyer Jeong filed an administrative lawsuit to cancel the transfer decision by the school violence committee and lost in all court proceedings, including the first trial, second trial, and Supreme Court, over approximately nine months.

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Police Agency building. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Lawyer Jeong was appointed on the 24th by President Yoon Suk-yeol as the first head of the National Criminal Investigation Headquarters under the current administration. He is a former prosecutor who worked alongside President Yoon at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. This has led to criticism within the police that the presidential office may have proceeded with the recruitment process for the head of the National Criminal Investigation Headquarters with lawyer Jeong in mind from the beginning.

This paper attempted to contact lawyer Jeong to inquire about the recent controversy regarding his child's school violence and his future plans, but was unable to reach him. Lawyer Jeong's official inauguration as head of the National Criminal Investigation Headquarters is scheduled for the 27th. Upon his formal appointment, he will command over 30,000 investigative police officers nationwide, including the chiefs of 18 metropolitan and provincial police agencies and local police stations, until February 2025.

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