Yoon angered by police releasing unapproved reshuffle announcement

The flag of the Korean National Police Agency flies at the police headquarters in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Infighting between police, interior ministry blamed for release of unapproved draft

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk-yeol lashed out at the Korean National Police Agency on Thursday for releasing unapproved documents regarding a police reshuffle before it had been finalized, saying it is either "a disturbance of national discipline" or "a nonsensical error" by government officials.

"I picked up the story from a news article and looked it up to find out what had actually happened. I figured out that something absurd happened," Yoon told reporters referring to the incident. "Police released the list of their own recommendations for the reshuffle, which had yet to be confirmed because it required approval first from the interior ministry and then the president. This is nonsense and equivalent to a disturbance of national discipline as the draft of the list was released."

President Yoon Suk-yeol gestures as he answers reporters' questions on his way to his office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps

Police unveiled a list of 28 police officials up for promotions to senior superintendent generals at around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, before receiving confirmation from the ministry and the president. Two hours later, the police released a new list in which seven of the names were replaced with others, as a result of the interior ministry's decisions.

Police explained that it was a mistake during communications with the interior ministry, but the minister of the interior and safety said the "police made the announcement even before the president approved the appointments."

The incident shows the friction between the police and the interior ministry.

The two have been coming into conflict, as the interior ministry is trying currently to set up an organization under its purview overseeing the police. The ministry on Tuesday announced its recommendation on "democratic management of police" aimed at setting up an "organization supporting police" within the ministry.

Police claim that this would be a "division controlling police" and will compromise officers' independence. However, the ministry is explaining that the organization will focus on supporting police in proposing rules related to investigations, recommending high-ranking officials and providing other administrative assistance.

Members of the National Consultative Body of Police Officers, a police officers' union, hold a banner denouncing the interior ministry's plan to oversee police during a rally in front of the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Against this backdrop, the police's unveiling of the earlier draft is suspected as an expression of dissatisfaction against the interior ministry, which the ministry has quelled with President Yoon's support.

"The person authorized to make personnel decisions is the president," Yoon said. "The draft document was reported by the press as if it were a final version, after it was released to the media. So the media reported on the incident as the reversal of an official decision, which is not accurate because the documents were still in process without being confirmed, as the interior ministry hadn't given its approval, not to mention the president."

With Yoon taking the stance of holding police agency responsible for the incident, speculation is growing that a probe could be launched to tighten police discipline and punish those at fault.

"The prosecution is required to have stronger independence and neutrality than the police, but the prosecution finds no problem in the justice ministry having a prosecution division," said Yoon, a former prosecutor general.

An official at the presidential office said, "The president appears to have underscored that it was a serious mistake." But the office was unavailable for comment on whether there will be a follow-up investigation into the agency.

Despite Yoon's strong remarks, police are continuing their rally against the interior ministry's move. The National Consultative Body of Police Officers, which is considered as a police officers' union, held a protest at the Government Complex in Seoul, Thursday, and condemned the interior ministry's guideline as "an attempt to control police" and "exploit the organization as a political tool."

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