Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korean opposition leader urges appointment of new police chief
People Power Party leader Jung Jeom-sik urged President Lee Jae-myung to appoint a new police chief on South Korea’s Police Day.
Jung said the country has continued with an acting police chief instead of a permanent appointee.
He argued that a permanent chief would help police officers focus on their duties.
He linked police workloads to changes in investigative powers made in 2021, which he said brought a surge of complaints and accusations to police.
Jung also warned that abolishing prosecutors’ direct supplementary investigations on October 2 could add to the burden.
He said recent cases had drawn criticism of police, but argued that frontline officers should not bear blame for wider pressures.
Jung called for the process to nominate a new chief to begin, but no next step by the president was reported.
South Korean opposition floor leader Jeom-sik Jeong urged President Lee Jae-myung to appoint a new police chief on Oct. 21.
Jeong said the president should begin the process of naming a permanent chief rather than continue the acting arrangement.
He argued that police officers should not face blame for high-profile cases and that many officers remain dedicated to their work.
Jeong said police workload had grown since a 2021 reform of investigative powers and could increase further after prosecutors’ direct supplementary investigations were abolished.
- Who
- Jeom-sik Jeong, floor leader of the People Power Party, called on President Lee Jae-myung to act.
- What
- Jeong urged Lee to appoint a new police chief and begin the nomination process.
- When
- Oct. 21, 2026, Police Day.
- Where
- South Korea. Jeong made the appeal in a Facebook post.
- Why
- Jeong said a permanent chief was needed to help police focus on their duties, amid concerns about officers’ workload and public criticism.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jeong said police faced a surge in complaints and accusations after the Moon Jae-in government adjusted investigative powers between police and prosecutors.
Prosecutors' direct supplementary investigations were abolished, according to Jeong.
On Police Day, Jeong urged President Lee to begin the process of appointing a new police chief.
- Speaker
- Jeom-sik Jeong, People Power Party floor leader
- Appeal date
- Oct. 21, 2026
- Office sought
- Permanent police chief
- Investigative reform
- Police-prosecutor investigative powers adjusted in 2021
- Later change
- Prosecutors' direct supplementary investigations abolished on Oct. 2
1 source
What people are saying
The president's job is not only to push and criticize the police while calling for police reform
The president has a duty to encourage the many capable and dedicated police officers so they can focus on their proper duties. That begins with appointing a permanent police chief
I urge him to explain why he has not appointed a permanent police chief and why he is continuing the acting arrangement
The appointment of a police chief must not be delayed any longer