National Police Agency Executes Major Personnel Overhaul, Shifting Key Leadership
The National Police Agency has announced a significant and wide-reaching personnel reshuffle affecting 472 superintendents, a move that has been widely interpreted within the police force as a substantial realignment designed to align with the current administration’s strategic priorities. Notably, this extensive transfer of superintendents occurred prior to official promotions to that rank, underscoring the scale and urgency of the changes.
A central figure in this reshuffle is Lee Eun-ae, formerly the head of the Women and Youth Division at the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency. Superintendent Lee has been appointed to the critical role of Audit Supervisor within the National Police Agency. Her appointment is particularly noteworthy given her past advocacy for expanding the police’s investigative autonomy during the significant adjustments to investigative authority between prosecutors and police. She was also a participant in a nationwide superintendents’ meeting in July 2022, a gathering that took place amidst controversy surrounding the establishment of a police bureau, and subsequently faced personnel changes.
Another superintendent who attended the same meeting, Jo Mi-yeon, previously headed the Yeoju Police Station under the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency. She has now been appointed as the Planning and Coordination Supervisor at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
The reshuffle has seen a comprehensive reassignment of individuals to key positions within the National Police Agency itself, impacting crucial departments such as audit, inspection, and intelligence. Jung Hyun-cheol, who commanded the Seoul 2nd Mobile Unit, has been named Inspection Supervisor. Yang Seung-ho, formerly the head of the Seoul Geumcheon Police Station, now serves as the Public Safety Information Situation Division Supervisor. Shin Dong-gon, previously the head of the Seoul Nowon Police Station, has been appointed the Public Safety Information Analysis Division Supervisor. Jeong Moon-seok, who led the Seoul Eunpyeong Police Station, is now the Public Safety Information Cooperation Division Supervisor.
Further key appointments at the National Police Agency include Choi In-gyu, the former head of the Seoul Gwanak Police Station, who has been appointed Innovation Planning and Coordination Supervisor. Jeong Han-gyu, who previously headed the National Police Agency’s Security Division, is now the Education Policy Supervisor. Jo Chang-bae, who led the Criminal Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, has taken over as the Investigation and Human Rights Supervisor. In the realm of local policing, Lee Dong-gyu, the former head of the Chungnam Hongseong Police Station, has been named Local Police Planning Team Leader. Park Jeong-hoon, who previously held the position of Innovation Planning and Coordination Supervisor at the National Police Agency, will now lead the Local Police Operations Team.
Significant Leadership Changes Across Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has also undergone substantial leadership transformations. Park Ju-hyuk, the former head of the Seoul Seocho Police Station, has been appointed Public Relations Supervisor. Seo Gi-yong, who led the Seoul Seongdong Police Station, is now the Hearing, Audit, and Human Rights Supervisor. Jeong Hwan-soo, formerly the head of the Investigation Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, has been named Anti-Corruption Investigation Team Leader. Park Sam-hyeon, who headed the Gangbuk Police Station, is now the Public Crime Investigation Team Leader. Kang Il-gu, who was in charge of the Security Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, has been appointed Financial Crime Investigation Team Leader.
Emphasis on Personnel Over Current Operations Cited
Within the police community, this extensive reshuffle has been characterized by assessments that suggest “personnel decisions prioritizing individuals over current issues.” A striking example of this is the complete replacement of key cybercrime investigation personnel at both the National Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. These individuals were instrumental in managing high-profile cases, including the significant personal information leak from Coupang and various other hacking incidents. In the wake of these changes, Lee Gi-beom, the former head of the Yangju Police Station in northern Gyeonggi, has been appointed Cybercrime Investigation Division Supervisor at the National Police Agency. Concurrently, Lee Seong-il, who previously led the Wando Police Station in South Jeolla, has been appointed Cybercrime Investigation Division Supervisor at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Reassignment of Previous Administration’s Key Figures
Individuals who held prominent positions under the previous administration have largely been reassigned to regional posts. Hwang Se-young, the former head of the 101st Security Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency – a unit responsible for protecting the presidential office during the previous government – has been transferred to the Crime Prevention and Response Division at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency. Kim Wan-gi, formerly the head of the Seoul Mapo Police Station and involved in a legal dispute with lawyer Kim Kyu-hyun concerning remarks related to a December 3 emergency martial law, has been reassigned as Public Relations Supervisor at the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Police Agency.
Furthermore, superintendents who served in dispatched roles during the previous administration have also been predominantly reassigned to regional assignments. Park Jong-hyun, who served as an administrator within the Presidential Office’s Public Ethics Secretariat, has been transferred to the Crime Prevention Division at the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. Jeong Hae-young, who was part of the personnel verification team during the transition committee, has been appointed as a situation team leader at the 112 Comprehensive Public Safety Situation Room of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency. Jo Young-wook, formerly an administrator at the State Council’s Public Relations Secretariat, has been reassigned as a manager education team leader at the Korean National Police University.
