Interior minister breaks up police infighting
Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum, third from left, National Police Agency Commissioner General Lee Cheol-seong, second from left and Central Police Academy Chief Kang In-cheol, right, bow in apology during a press conference at police headquarters in Seodaemun, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
By Lee Kyung-min
Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum ordered police leadership to halt the ongoing “mudslinging,” Sunday, demanding the figures involved return to serving the public immediately.
Kim made an unprecedented visit to the National Police Agency (NPA) and apologized to the public for the ongoing conflict between NPA Commissioner General Lee Cheol-seong and Central Police Academy Chief Kang In-cheol over what Kang claimed was an “abuse of power by Lee” last November.
“I demand Lee and Kang immediately halt any attacks against each other,” Kim said. “I, as interior minister, will resolve the issues by thoroughly reflecting the opinions of both sides who respectively have claimed the situation has played out unfairly. I will direct an investigation into this matter and fully disclose the findings to dispel such worries.”
The conflict was triggered two weeks ago after Kang, the then-Gwanju Metropolitan Police Agency (GMPA) chief, claimed Lee unleashed a verbal tirade on him in a GMPA Facebook post last Nov. 18 that described the city as a “shrine of democratization.”
Kang said Lee, a staunch supporter of former President Park Geun-hye, took offense to what Lee deemed was an anti-Park, “politically motivated” remark amid the groundswell grassroots movement growing at that time against Park over the scandal that eventually removed her from office.
In the message posted by a Gwangju police officer, the GMPA praised the city residents for showing a high level of civic pride at weekend street rallies where they demanded Park resign over the corruption scandal involving her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.
The message also featured a photo in which police officers were controlling traffic under banners that read, “Resign Park Geun-hye, who violated the Constitution and let an outsider intervene in state affairs,” and “Thank you residents in Gwangju, the shrine of democratization, for demonstrating exemplary behavior during rallies.”
Kang said Lee called him on the phone the next day and said with a sarcastic tone, “Do you like it that much working at such a shrine of democratization? Do you think the Park administration will get replaced following these candlelit vigils?”
Lee is also alleged to have said other offensive words seeking to demean the officers in Gwangju.
Kim said police should focus its efforts into serving the public, adding that the current infighting is an embarrassment to the public servants as a whole.
“If police fail to grasp the brewing outrage and criticisms against the institution that exists to serve and protect the public, the people will desert the police,” he added.
Both Lee and Kang apologized, saying they will focus on their duties. They added incidents of this sort will not recur ever again.