Selection of Next National Investigation Chief Ahead of Prosecution Abolition Narrows to Internal Candidates

Internal Promotion Confirmed Once Again... "Minimizing Vacancy"


Investigation Experts Hong Seokgi, Bae Daehee, and Choi Bohyeon Among Leading Candidates

With the abolition of the prosecution and the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency approaching, the next head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency is also expected to be selected from within the organization. This move appears to be aimed at stabilizing the organization during the restructuring of investigative authority.

According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily on June 25, the selection process for the next head of the National Investigation Headquarters has been set to prioritize internal selection and minimize any vacancy. With the police chief position having been filled by an acting official for a year and a half, there is concern that a prolonged vacancy in the headquarters—seen as the investigative control tower—could undermine discipline. There are also concerns that appointing an external candidate in the midst of investigative authority restructuring could weaken organizational control.

Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters. Photo by Jin Hyung Kang

Head Park Sungjoo is set to retire at the end of this month. Although he has one year left in his term, he must step down due to current regulations that prioritize the mandatory retirement age. The National Assembly has been reviewing a bill to exempt the police chief and head of the National Investigation Headquarters from the retirement age of 60 during their terms, but the consensus is that passing the law within this month will be difficult.

Candidates mentioned for the position include Hong Seokgi, Director of the Investigation Bureau; Bae Daehee, Director of the Security Investigation Bureau; and Choi Bohyun, Deputy Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency—all of whom have broad experience in investigative leadership. Director Hong is a graduate of the Korea National Police University, while Director Bae and Deputy Chief Choi passed the bar exam.

Director Hong Seokgi is originally from Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, and graduated from Jecheon High School and the 8th class of the Korea National Police University (law major), joining the police in 1991. He has extensive practical experience, including as Director of Cyber Crime Review at the head office, Head of Public Safety at the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, and Chief of Gangseo Police Station in Seoul. He was promoted to Senior Superintendent in the Traffic Planning Division at headquarters, then after a provincial assignment, returned to become Head of the Traffic Planning Division and was promoted to Commissioner. Those from the traffic division are generally considered less politically affiliated. Within the organization, he is known for his mild and unpretentious character. His wife is Choi Eunjung, Head of the Security Investigation Department at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Commissioner, 9th class of the Police University).

Director Bae Daehee was born in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, graduated from Samin High School in Daegu and Korea University's law department, and entered the police force through the 44th bar exam (34th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) as a special appointee at the rank of Superintendent. His career includes Chief of the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination at headquarters, Deputy Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Head of the Investigation Department at the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, and a stint at the Presidential Office (Security Secretary’s Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration). He also worked at the Investigation Structure Reform Team, which was key to investigative authority reform during the Moon Jae-in administration, and drew attention as Chief of the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency for posting an internal memo expressing anger over police involvement in the martial law scandal. After taking medical leave due to chronic illness, he returned to work last month.

Deputy Chief Choi Bohyun is also recognized as an investigation specialist, having spent nearly 20 years in various investigative roles since joining the police. He is from Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, graduated from Yeosu High School and Dongguk University’s law department, and passed the 46th bar exam (36th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), joining the police as a special appointee Superintendent in 2007. His career includes Head of the Investigation Department at the South Jeolla and North Jeolla Provincial Police Agencies, Chief of Bucheon Wonmi Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, Head of the Violent Crime Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Chief of the Investigation and Security Investigation Departments at the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, Chief of Mapo Police Station in Seoul, and a dispatch to the Presidential Office (National Planning and Situation Room under the Moon Jae-in administration). He was promoted to Commissioner and Senior Superintendent at the same time as Director Hong.

Some have criticized the selection process for not holding an external recruitment, arguing that it allows for monopolization. This is because the usual career-competitive recruitment announcement, typically made a month or two before the appointment of a new head, was not issued. The position is open to external experts with at least 10 years of legal experience. However, under current law, external recruitment is only conducted when there is a need to hire externally.

Except for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, all heads of investigative agencies are in fact selected from within their organizations. The Prosecutor General can also be appointed from among those with at least 15 years of legal experience. However, except for a few cases in the past where judges, military officers, or former National Intelligence Service officials were appointed by executive order, all Prosecutor Generals since 1980 have been former prosecutors.

Within and outside the police, it is believed that the candidate pool was narrowed based on investigative leadership experience and organizational stability. Given that the discussion on abolishing the prosecution and launching the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are happening simultaneously, not only investigative experience but also political acumen to defend and coordinate the organization externally during the forthcoming restructuring of investigative authority is considered an important variable.

As the position is classified as a political appointment, candidates’ records under previous administrations are also likely to be considered. Director Bae was promoted in 2023, while Director Hong and Deputy Chief Choi were promoted to Senior Superintendent in September last year after the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration. At that time, two traffic experts with less political affiliation were appointed as the first Senior Superintendents under the Lee Jae-myung administration in September last year.

National Police Agency Headquarters, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

There is also speculation that a sitting Senior Superintendent General could be transferred to the role, but this appears unlikely. Of the seven Senior Superintendent General positions, aside from Yoo Jaeseong, Acting Commissioner General; Park Sungjoo, Head of the National Investigation Headquarters; and the President of the Korean National Police University (currently vacant), four positions remain. Park Jeongbo, Chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, known as an investigation specialist, was born in 1968, so he is young enough, but given the prestige of leading the capital's police force, a transfer seems unlikely. Hwang Changseon, Chief of Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, was born the same year as Head Park (1966) and is approaching retirement. Han Changhoon, Chief of Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, and Kim Seonghee, Chief of Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, are classified as traffic and planning experts, respectively.

Meanwhile, the head of the National Investigation Headquarters is appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, following a proposal from the Minister of the Interior and Safety and the Prime Minister. Procedurally, this process is expected to take about a month. If no acting head is specifically designated, from July 1, Yoon Seungnyeol, Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination at the National Police Agency, will automatically serve as acting head.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.