President Yoon Suk-yeol vented anger at the Korean National Police Agency (NPA) Thursday for having released an unapproved document to the press regarding the reshuffle of senior police officers. Yoon said the appointment “failed to get the approval from the president as well as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.” He described the incident as tantamount to “disruption of national discipline” or a “nonsensical mishap.”
It is dumfounding that NPA chief Kim Chang-yong abruptly announced the transfer of 28 officials to other posts without waiting for endorsement from the president. This incident should not have happened in a normal government. The list of the officials up for promotion to senior superintendent general was released to the media at around 7 p.m. Tuesday. But a second list was released at 9:34 p.m. with seven officials subject to changed posts, in an unprecedented personnel bungle.
The recent incident is deplorable in that its shows a disruption to the personnel affairs system of the police and the ministry. The police blamed the incident on its official dispatched to the ministry who failed to communicate effectively with the ministry and released the document mistakenly without getting confirmation from the ministry. Yet, such justification is not enough to clear the suspicion surrounding the incident.
Relevant authorities should embark on investigations to dig out what happened in the process of the release of the list in advance and its reversal. The incident demonstrates the brewing conflict between the police and the ministry over the latter's plan to set up a department in charge of police affairs under its apparatus. It took place the same day when an advisory body recommended the interior minister to be able to ask for punishment of ranking police officials. This has triggered speculation that the government was trying to control the police.
The ministry has said the new organization will help promote democratic management of the police. Yet the police rebuffed the ministry's stance, asserting it was attempting to weaken the police. There has been growing concern over police becoming too powerful after the prosecution was stripped of its investigative power. Starting in September, the police will be equipped with investigative powers in most cases with the exception of corruption and economic crimes. Steps are needed to contain the police, preventing human rights infringements and inappropriate investigations. The ministry and the presidential office, for their part, should not attempt to meddle in the police investigations.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea raised the suspicion that some stalwart lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) might have interfered with personnel matters in the police force. Strict investigations should be conducted to find out the truth and subject those at fault to due punishment. All details regarding the recent reshuffle should be clarified and made open to prevent further such incidents. The police and the ministry are responsible for protecting the safety of the people. They should not disappoint the people any longer.