Gyeongnam Police Chief Appointed Deputy Commissioner General of Korean National Police Agency
Quick Look
Kim Jong-chul was appointed deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, making him acting head amid a prolonged vacancy in the top post, as part of a major personnel reshuffle that replaced 78% of city and provincial police chiefs and over 80% of senior superintendent generals.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Korean National Police Agency has had a prolonged vacancy in the top commissioner post, with Yoo Jae-seong serving as acting commissioner for over 20 months. The agency applies a regional avoidance principle to prevent conflicts of interest and strengthen impartiality.
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency was appointed deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), police said Tuesday, effectively making him acting head of the national police force amid a prolonged vacancy in the top post.
Kim Jong-chul was named to replace Yoo Jae-seong, who has served as acting KNPA commissioner for more than 20 months.
The KNPA said it applied a regional avoidance principle in the reshuffle, under which senior officers are generally not assigned to their hometowns or regions where they have close ties, in an effort to strengthen impartiality and prevent corruption.
As part of the reshuffle, 14 out of 18 national police agency chiefs in the city and province level, equivalent to 78 percent of the total, were replaced.
Over 80 percent of senior superintendent general ranks were replaced in the personnel shakeup, according to officials.
Ko Beom-seok was appointed the new chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, while Yu Seung-ryeol was promoted to head the Incheon Metropolitan Police chief.
The KNPA said it plans to overhaul its personnel system and expand the regional avoidance to other key posts in future reshuffles.
Open Questions
- When will the permanent commissioner be appointed?
- What specific changes are planned for the personnel system overhaul?
- How will the expanded regional avoidance principle be implemented in future reshuffles?
