National Police Commission to Review Nomination of New Police Chief Today

A process is underway to fill the top police post, which has been vacant for nearly two years since the martial law crisis.

The National Police Commission said it would convene a meeting at around 1:30 p.m. on November 6 and review a motion to approve the nomination of a candidate for commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency. Under the Police Act, the commissioner general is appointed by the president, following a recommendation by the minister of the interior and safety, through the prime minister, with the National Police Commission's approval. The nominee must also undergo a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly before the final appointment.

Kim Jongcheol, acting chief of the National Police Agency (deputy commissioner); Go Beomseok, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; and Yoo Seungnyeol, chief of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.

Those mentioned as leading candidates include Kim Jongcheol, deputy commissioner general at the Korean National Police Agency, who has served as acting commissioner general since September, as well as Go Beomseok, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Yoo Seungyeol, commissioner of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency. The post has been vacant for 1 year and 11 months since then-Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the martial law crisis in December 2024 and suspended from his duties following impeachment proceedings.

Following former deputy commissioners general Lee Ho-young and Yoo Jae-seong, Deputy Commissioner General Kim is serving as the third acting commissioner general.

There have been repeated calls from within and outside the police for an urgent appointment to lead the agency and stabilize the organization and the criminal justice system, as an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act abolishes the prosecution's investigative authority and assigns most investigations to the police.

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