Yun Ho-jung: “Appointment of police chief delayed by chief superintendents general nearing retirement age, insurrection trials and other factors”

[Financial News] Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung cited Kim Jong-chul’s ability to command the organization and commitment to police reform as reasons for recommending him, the Korean National Police Agency’s deputy chief and acting commissioner general, as the next commissioner general on the 6th. He said the appointment had been delayed because most chief superintendent generals were nearing retirement age or were embroiled in trials or allegations related to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, making it difficult to find a suitable candidate.
At a briefing that day at Government Complex Seoul on his recommendation of a candidate for commissioner general, Minister Yun said, “I recognized the leadership and strong commitment to police reform that Deputy Chief Kim has demonstrated while leading the Korean National Police Agency as acting commissioner general.”
He said no particular issues were raised during the National Police Commission (South Korea)’s review of candidate Kim.
Asked why the review took longer than expected, Minister Yun said, “We initially expected there to be about one round of questions and answers with the candidate, but there was a full discussion, including follow-up questions.” He added, “I understand that the members of the National Police Commission (South Korea) did not express the view that there were any particular problems with the candidate.”
He also explained why the appointment of a commissioner general had been delayed for so long.
Minister Yun said, “Until December last year, Commissioner General Jo Ji-ho, who was police chief during the insurrection, was undergoing an impeachment trial. The decision to remove him from office came in December last year, after which the conditions were in place to appoint a commissioner general.” He continued, “At the time, most chief superintendent generals, the rank immediately below, were nearing retirement age. Some were facing trial or had been accused of involvement in the insurrection, which made it difficult to appoint someone immediately.”
He also cited the police rank structure as a reason for the delay. The commissioner general, the highest rank in the police, must be appointed from among chief superintendent generals, the rank immediately below. A senior superintendent general cannot be promoted directly to commissioner general in a two-rank jump.
Minister Yun explained, “Because the police operate under a rank-based system, they do not promote senior superintendent generals directly to commissioner general, skipping two ranks. The structure meant we had no choice but to wait until a candidate for commissioner general emerged from among the chief superintendent generals.”
The appointment is significant because it will end the prolonged period in which the Korean National Police Agency has been led by an acting commissioner general and will mark the appointment of the first commissioner general since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office. Candidate Kim will be appointed by the president after a personnel hearing at the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Kim, who has been recommended as a candidate for commissioner general, is from Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, and is a member of the 45th class of the police executive candidate program. He graduated from Jinju Myungshin High School and the English Department at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and joined the police as a senior inspector in 1997. He earned a master’s degree in convergent security studies from Chung-Ang University and a doctorate in public security administration from the Korean National Police University. In 2008, he served as a consul at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City. He later served as chief of Sokcho Police Station under the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, chief of Seocho Police Station under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and head of the Personnel and Education Division, among other posts. In 2021, he was promoted to superintendent general and became head of the Autonomous Police Division at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. In July that year, he worked at the National Situation Room at the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in administration. He later served as head of the Public Safety Division at the Daegu and Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agencies; head of the Community Safety and Traffic Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; head of the Public Safety Division at the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency; and head of the Community Safety Division at the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency. In September 2025, he was promoted to senior superintendent general and appointed chief of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. Last September, he was promoted to chief superintendent general and became the 46th deputy chief of the Korean National Police Agency. He is currently serving as acting commissioner general.

[email protected] Lee Bomi Reporter