Who was appointed acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency and who did he replace?

Kim Jong-chul, chief of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, was named deputy commissioner general of the KNPA, effectively making him acting head of the force. He replaced Yoo Jae-seong, who had served in the acting role for more than 20 months.

Why did the Korean National Police Agency say it used a regional avoidance principle in the reshuffle?

The KNPA said the rule keeps senior officers from being assigned to their hometowns or places where they have close ties. It said the approach is meant to strengthen impartiality and prevent corruption.

How extensive was the Korean National Police Agency personnel shakeup?

Fourteen of 18 city and provincial police chiefs were replaced, which the KNPA said was 78 percent of the total. More than 80 percent of senior superintendent general ranks were also replaced, and Ko Beom-seok and Yu Seung-ryeol received key regional appointments.

Police leadership overhauled in massive late-night reshuffle

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Summary

The chief of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency was appointed deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, effectively making him acting head of the national police force amid a prolonged vacancy. Kim Jong-chul replaced Yoo Jae-seong, who had served as acting commissioner for more than 20 months. The KNPA said the reshuffle applied a regional avoidance principle to promote impartiality and prevent corruption. It also replaced most senior regional police chiefs and said it plans further personnel reforms.

Key Facts

Kim Jong-chul was named deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, replacing Yoo Jae-seong.
Yoo Jae-seong had served as acting KNPA commissioner for more than 20 months.
Fourteen of 18 national police agency chiefs at the city and province level were replaced, equal to 78 percent of the total.
More than 80 percent of senior superintendent general ranks were replaced in the personnel shakeup.
The KNPA said it plans to overhaul its personnel system and extend regional avoidance to other key posts in future reshuffles.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 2, 2026 12:47 am KST
Updated Sep 2, 2026 1:20 am KST

The National Police Agency / Courtesy of Korean National Police Agency

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.

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