Police Chief Nominee: "Responding to Abnormal-Motive and Relationship-Based Crimes Is Top Priority"

National Police Commission Approves Nomination of Kim Jongcheol as Police Chief

Kim Jongcheol, nominee for commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, named overhauling the response system for abnormal-motive and relationship-based crimes as his top priority.

Speaking to reporters after attending an emergency meeting of the National Police Commission in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on November 6, Kim was asked what issue needed to be addressed first. He said, "The urgent priority is to overhaul systems and field manuals so that people do not fall victim to abnormal-motive or relationship-based crimes."

Kim Jongcheol, acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (deputy commissioner), attends an emergency meeting of the National Police Commission in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 6th. Yonhap News Agency

The National Police Commission approved a motion consenting to the recommendation of Kim for appointment as commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency. He is expected to be appointed by the president after being recommended by the minister of the interior and safety and going through the prime minister. He must undergo a National Assembly confirmation hearing before his appointment, but the president can appoint him even without the Assembly's approval. The term is two years.

Explaining the discussions at the meeting, Kim said, "I was asked various questions about my philosophy on public safety and my views on a range of public safety issues, and I spoke candidly about what I have generally thought." Regarding the upcoming National Assembly confirmation hearing, he said, "I will do my utmost with sincerity, a responsible attitude, and complete candor."

He also reiterated his commitment to reforming the organization. "I am fully aware of the aspirations for a better society, the calls for police reform, and the many different voices," he said. "I will improve the thoroughness of police work, from investigations to general public safety administration, and through that, restore public trust one step at a time."

Kim was born in 1970 in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Jinju Myeongsin High School and the Department of English at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He earned a master's degree in convergence security from Chung-Ang University and a doctorate in public administration from the Korean National Police University. After joining the police in 1997 as a member of the 45th class of the senior police officer candidate program, Kim served as chief of the Seoul Seocho Police Station, head of the autonomous police division at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and at the Situation Room of the Presidential Secretariat. He later served as head of the public safety divisions at the Daegu and Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agencies, as head of the public safety and transportation division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as head of the public safety division at the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, and as commissioner of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. He is regarded as having held a range of key posts in public safety and public welfare.

Kim also served on secondment to the National Planning Committee, which served a role similar to that of a presidential transition committee in the Lee Jae-myung administration. He has been considered a leading candidate for commissioner general since the administration's early days. He was appointed deputy commissioner at the National Police Agency in September and has served as acting commissioner general since then.

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