Acting National Police Agency chief: “No unilateral push for rotational assignments for frontline officers”

[Financial News] The acting chief of the National Police Agency said the agency would sufficiently gather views from frontline officers on plans to expand rotational assignments and would not push ahead unilaterally.
On the 12th, acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-cheol said at a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, held at the agency’s headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, that “there will be no unilateral push for rotational assignments in a way that does not have the support of officers on the ground.” He was responding to a question from Rep. Lim Ho-seon of the Democratic Party of Korea, who called for reconsideration of plans to expand rotations for senior inspectors.
Rep. Lim said the scope, eligible personnel and methods for applying rotational assignments should be clearly defined, and that criteria should be established for identifying roles at high risk of local entanglements. He also argued that the expansion should be put on hold in its entirety unless safeguards are in place, including measures to maintain expertise, ensure fairness in promotion evaluations, set criteria for deferrals and exceptions, and establish an appeals process.
Earlier, Rep. Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party also pointed to the housing and transportation burden that expanded rotational assignments would place on frontline officers.
Rep. Joo voiced concern that officers posted to another region without official housing support would have to find separate accommodation, and that depending on their workplace, long-distance commutes could be unavoidable. He also raised the possibility of adverse effects, such as lobbying for postings near one’s home.
Acting chief Kim responded, “It is true that carrying out rotational assignments even for frontline staff entails a considerable burden,” adding, “Unless things like official housing or transportation costs are provided, this would be very difficult in practice.”
He added that he would communicate closely with frontline staff and gather their views through surveys and other means.
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter