Kim Jong-cheol, candidate for National Police Agency, appears at the National Police Commission... “I feel a great sense of responsibility”

Deputy Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol of the National Police Agency, a candidate for the new Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, said on the 6th, "I feel great responsibility for being nominated as a candidate for the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency at such a critical time."

Candidate Kim said this before attending a special meeting of the National Police Committee to deliberate on the motion to recommend the appointment of the Commissioner General of the National Police, saying, "I am well aware that the public's expectations for the police are higher than ever and voices of concern are louder than ever."

He then emphasized, “I will work faithfully with a responsible attitude as my capabilities and qualifications are verified as a candidate today.”

The selection of the Chief of Police is carried out in the following order: recommendation of a candidate by the President's Office → consent of the National Police Commission → recommendation by the Minister of Public Administration and Security → National Assembly personnel hearing → appointment by the President.

The Commissioner General of the National Police can be appointed without the consent of the National Assembly after a personnel hearing.

The National Police Commission plans to hold a special meeting today to confirm Deputy Chief Kim's status as a candidate for the National Police Agency, in accordance with the procedures for appointing the Chief of Police as stipulated in the Police Act.

Candidate Kim was born in Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do in 1970, graduated from Jinju Myeongsin High School and the English Department of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 45th class of police officer candidates in 1997.

He served as the chief of the Seocho Police Station in Seoul in 2019, and was promoted to police officer in 2021 and took on the role of head of the autonomous police department of the Busan Police Agency.

In July of the same year, he worked in the Government Affairs Situation Room of the Moon Jae-in administration’s Blue House.

Afterwards, he served as the head of the Public Safety Department of the Daegu and Daejeon Police Agency, the head of the Life Safety and Transportation Department of the Seoul Police Agency, the head of the Public Safety Department of the Chungnam Police Agency, and the head of the Life Safety Department of the Gangwon Police Agency.

In September of last year, he was promoted to Superintendent of Police and took on the role of Commissioner of the Gyeongnam Police Agency, and in August of this year, he was promoted to Superintendent of Police. As a follow-up appointment, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency in September and also took on the duties of Acting Commissioner.