Police Chief: "No Consent for Harsh Crackdown, Capsaicin Sprayed by Commander's Judgment"... Promise of 13 Special Promotions

Ahead of the 'Minnocho Large-Scale Rally,' 13 Riot Police Officers Promised Promotions
Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun: "Cannot Agree to Harsh Suppression... Capsaicin Spray Used According to Commander's Judgment"

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, recently urged a full-scale response to large-scale rallies held across urban areas and promised special promotions to security police officers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Promise of Special Promotions for 13 Security Police Officers... Urges Thorough Response Ahead of Minnochoong Demonstration

On the 30th, the National Police Agency announced the 'Special Promotion Plan for Security Police Officers' through the internal police network. A total of 13 officers will be selected, targeting departments responding to rallies and demonstrations such as metropolitan police agencies, frontline police stations, and riot police units.

The National Police Agency stated, "We will promptly implement special promotions for security police officers, including riot police members who have worked hard to respond to recent large-scale rallies and demonstrations." The selection process will take place in July, with promotions scheduled for early August. This is interpreted as an effort to minimize citizen inconvenience by quickly blocking illegal activities by labor unions.

Earlier, the National Police Agency announced plans to establish six additional riot police units in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and reorganize riot police units nationwide to reinforce personnel in Seoul and the metropolitan area, where security demands are concentrated.

Yoon Hee-geun: "I Do Not Agree with Harsh Crackdowns... Will Enforce Dispersal if Illegal Acts Occur"

The police stated on the 31st that they will respond strictly to the large-scale rally by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minnochoong) held nationwide.

Before holding a security countermeasure meeting at Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul that morning, Commissioner Yoon told reporters, "I do not agree with the term 'harsh response,'" adding, "Regarding illegal acts committed under the name of freedom of assembly, the police will confidently and without hesitation fulfill their role."

Regarding controversies over harsh crackdowns such as the use of capsaisin spray, he said, "I also do not agree with the term 'harsh crackdown,'" and added, "If its use is deemed necessary depending on the situation on site, I instructed that it be prepared for use at the discretion of the on-site commander." Commissioner Yoon had previously stated that the use of capsaisin spray should be prepared if necessary during the dispersal of illegal rallies. The last time capsaisin spray was used for dispersing rallies was in March 2017.

Regarding the dispersal of evening rallies, he said, "We have a policy to disperse if the rally continues illegally beyond the designated time or causes excessive traffic congestion."

On the reintroduction of water cannons, he said, "I will speak about it gradually over time."

The police plan to deploy about 5,400 officers from approximately 80 units out of a total of 120 units (about 8,400 officers) nationwide to Seoul for response.

Meanwhile, Minnochoong plans to hold a warning strike rally with about 20,000 union members participating in the Sejong-daero area of Seoul at 4 p.m. on the same day. Minnochoong has reported rallies with a total of 35,000 participants across 14 regions nationwide, not just Seoul. Minnochoong has warned of intensified struggles, claiming that the government is pursuing anti-labor policies and the police are conducting targeted investigations.

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