Police Chief's Candid Remarks Toward Ministry of the Interior and Safety... Concerns Over Return to Security Headquarters System

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency

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[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Cho, Byeongdon Yoo] "Political neutrality and independence must be guaranteed."

This is a pointed remark made by Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency in response to the increasing moves to control the police following the change of government. Recently, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, after Minister Lee Sang-min took office, has formed an advisory committee for police system improvement and is considering establishing a Police Bureau to exercise command and supervisory authority over the police. Controversy over infringement on police independence has arisen within the police. This coincides with the period when the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution are gaining influence following the appointment of Minister Han Dong-hoon.

At a press conference on the 30th, Commissioner Kim said, "Since the revision of the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, there have been continuous calls for checks and controls over the police," adding, "Balanced discussions reflecting opinions and perspectives that guarantee not only control but also neutrality must be conducted." While checks are important, it is also crucial to ensure operations align with the purpose and intent of the institution's establishment.

The National Police Agency was established in 1991 as an independent external agency separate from the internal security headquarters under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Subsequently, a Police Commission system was established to prevent abuse of power. Commissioner Kim stated, "As far as I know, the police are the only agency within government ministries that have introduced a commission system to command and supervise an external agency," emphasizing, "That much, police authority must be exercised independently and neutrally." The implication is that rather than external forces trying only to control the police, the police should be given the opportunity to secure their own independence and neutrality.

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Experts also evaluated that "Commissioner Kim made a 'principled' statement despite his term being almost over, regarding the current situation where the police are suffering from political pressure." Professor Gwak Dae-kyung of Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration said, "There is concern that the government intends to control and manipulate the police under its command," adding, "There is also worry that we might be returning to the days when the Security Headquarters was under the Ministry of Home Affairs before the revision of the National Police Agency Act. It is time for fundamental discussions from the perspective of providing safety to our society and police services to the public."

There are also voices pointing out the ineffectiveness of the Police Commission system. Because the Police Commission’s authority and functions are weak, the government and political circles attempt to control the police. Professor Kim Do-woo of Gyeongnam National University’s Department of Police Administration said, "In countries like the UK and Japan, which have commission systems like ours, the commissions hold all command and supervisory authority over the police," and criticized, "In our country, since the Ministry of the Interior and Safety holds command and supervisory authority, the structure cannot guarantee the political neutrality of the police."

The recent appointment of Police Senior Superintendents on the 24th is also cited as a fragmentary example where the political independence and neutrality of the police are not guaranteed. Since Senior Superintendents are potential candidates for Police Commissioner, the personnel changes during the Police Commissioner replacement period were considered unusual. There was also analysis that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is trying to increase its control over the police through strong personnel authority. Currently, the National Police Agency is an external agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and according to the Police Act, the Minister of the Interior and Safety holds the authority to propose personnel appointments for positions of Police Commissioner and above. When asked whether the Commissioner’s opinion was reflected in this Senior Superintendent appointment, Commissioner Kim avoided a direct answer, saying, "It is difficult to discuss specific details." This silence inevitably leads to various interpretations.

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