National police chief’s resignation rejected

By Na Jeong-ju

Police chief Cho Hyun-oh tendered his resignation to Cheong Wa Dae early this month, but the presidential office didn’t accept it, sources said Monday.

Cho has been in the hot seat as an increasing number of officers have turned their back on him over the revision of regulations on investigation rights. He also faces an allegation that he attempted to cover up the involvement of ruling camp staffers in a cyber attack on the country’s election watchdog during the Oct. 26 by-elections.

The sources from the National Police Agency (NPA) said Cho offered to resign to take responsibility for the incidents, but Cheong Wa Dae told him not to quit.

“The presidential office expressed concern about the timing of his resignation. It worried that his resignation would reignite the conflict between the prosecution and the police over investigation rights,” an NPA official said.

Some officers have publicly criticized Cho for having failed to represent police interests properly in negotiations over investigation rights.

In early December, Cho said he would quit if police demands were not reflected in the revision. The government, however, rejected his call, saying it was the result of a compromise between top law-enforcement officials.

Cho has failed to fulfill his pledge to quit, drawing criticism from many of his colleagues.

He also suffered a setback following revelations that police concealed crucial information suggesting the involvement of a Cheong Wa Dae staffer in the website attack.

He said he spoke over the phone twice with Kim Hyo-jae, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, just before police released their investigation results, raising suspicion of Cheong Wa Dae’s involvement in the alleged cover-up of the case.