Detecting Changes in the National Police Agency through the Return of Director Kim Jong-gwan

Introduction: The Exiled One Returns

In 2022, the Yoon Seok-youl government established the 'Policing Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety' to take control of police personnel authority and command structure. This sparked controversy over excessive police intervention by the administrative power and led to collective resistance within the police. At the center of this was the 'General Police Meeting.' Police superintendents from across the country voluntarily gathered to advocate for the political neutrality of the police and the independence of the organization during the meeting, but most attendees faced demotion or disadvantages as a consequence. One of them, Kim Jong-kwan, the then-chief of the Seoul Police Station, remained in a lesser position as the Director of Welfare Policy after his demotion. However, in 2025, with a change of government, he made a return. Moreover, he was appointed to the position of 'Director of Personnel,' which can be regarded as the heart of the police organization. This is seen as a significant signal that the previously collapsed personnel justice was beginning to be restored, indicating that the victim now holds the keys to personnel decisions and marking the start of a transitional era.

Main Point 1: The Contemporary Context – Police Agency and General Meeting

The Yoon Suk-yeol government took measures to place the police under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as part of its early reforms of power agencies. The key aspect was the establishment of the 'Police Bureau'. The police, in principle, should be affiliated with the executive branch but must be guaranteed a certain level of autonomy and independence. However, the establishment of the Police Bureau undermined this principle, essentially institutionalizing political interference in police personnel matters. In response, police superintendents from across the nation voluntarily gathered for a meeting, and the only person from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency who attended the meeting was Chief Kim Jong-kwan. He took leave and reported to his superiors, but was immediately demoted simply for attending the meeting. Most attendees faced similar consequences. Their names were placed on a blacklist, and they became targets of inspections, with testimonies indicating that surveillance was conducted on a regular basis. Under such circumstances, the internal structure of the police rapidly became rigid, and loyalty became the criteria for personnel decisions over autonomy and professionalism. As a result, morale within the police force plummeted, and the organizational culture became closed and authoritarian.

Main Point 2: The Return of Personnel Manager Kim Jong-kwan - A Twist of Fate

After the regime change in 2025, the former president Yoon Seok-yeol was impeached, and a new government took office, signs of change emerged in the personnel affairs of the National Police Agency. At the center of this was Section Chief Kim Jong-kwan. On July 2, the National Police Agency carried out a 'one-point personnel change' by swapping the positions of Kim Jong-kwan, the head of the Welfare Policy Division, and Lee Yong-wook, the head of the Personnel Division. Lee Yong-wook had previously worked in the Police Division of the Ministry of the Interior and was a key figure in establishing the police bureau. He did not attend the police chief meetings and was, in fact, a representative of the police bureau's logic. If the previous regime had continued, he would likely have maintained his position as the head of the Personnel Division and been promoted to a senior position. However, destiny changed. Kim Jong-kwan, who was demoted for attending the police chief meetings, returned as the head of the Personnel Division, and personnel from the police bureau were relegated to non-mainstream positions. While this simple position change may seem like a common administrative action, it carries a clear political message behind it. Granting central personnel authority to a person who suffered from retributive appointments of the past regime signals a declaration that future personnel criteria will shift from 'loyalty' to 'ability and principles.'

Main Point 3: A Signal for Recovery of Human Resources Definition

This recent appointment has brought a refreshing shock and expectation within the police organization. It is not just the return of an individual named Kim Jong-kwan, but rather a chance for many who were sidelined and excluded under past administrations to reclaim their rightful positions, starting with him. Furthermore, the fact that Kim Jong-kwan is the person responsible for the practical execution of this appointment makes it a significant starting point for the restoration of personnel justice. In public service organizations, especially in power agencies like the police, personnel appointments serve as a means to express the organization’s direction and values. During the previous Yoon administration, police appointments were solely based on 'loyalty'. Those who were critical of the Yoon government were excluded regardless of their background, gender, or region, while those supportive of the administration were promoted. As former police commissioner Lee Ji-eun stated in an interview, the appointments at that time were a complete mess. Basic principles such as gender balance, regional allocation, and background representation were not upheld, and the fairness and transparency of appointments vanished. In this context, the return of Kim Jong-kwan symbolizes not just recovery but transformation. Now, he holds the opportunity to correct past wrong practices through personnel authority. This could lead to the realization of justice within the police and the restoration of trust in the public service. If the police organization rises again based on principles and capabilities, public trust will also be restored.

Conclusion: The End of the Police Bureau and Remaining Tasks

Through this personnel change, we can sense that the end of the police bureau system is approaching. The police agency is already planning to gradually reorganize the functions of the police bureau, and its abolition is merely a matter of time. However, simply removing the police bureau will not resolve all issues. The remaining challenges are much deeper and more complex. First, there needs to be a truth revelation regarding the establishment process of the police bureau and the resulting illicit supervision, blacklist creation, and surveillance activities. It is essential not only to eliminate the system but also to restore the honor of those harmed by it and to take action against those responsible. Since the police are a power institution in themselves, there must be checks in place to prevent that power from being misused as a political tool. Additionally, a comprehensive reform of the internal personnel system within the police is necessary. Personnel decisions should be based on ability, reflecting a balanced consideration of gender, region, and background, and transparent hiring processes should be institutionally guaranteed, creating a system where organizational members feel that it is 'fair.' Lastly, those who were at the center of these changes—such as Kim Jong-kwan, Lee Ji-eun, and Ryu Sam-young—should continually have meaningful voices, in some way, both within and outside the organization. Their experiences of frustration and resistance have ultimately laid the groundwork for institutional improvement, and when they consistently propose a healthy direction for the public service both inside and outside the organization, the overall democracy and justice of Korean society can take a step further.

In conclusion

The return of Kim Jong-kwan, the head of the personnel department, is not just a simple job transfer. It is a symbolic event in which someone who resisted power stands at the center of institutional restoration. We can expect that starting from this small change, the injustices of the past will be resolved one by one, and fairness and common sense will once again take hold in the public service. From being sidelined to becoming a key player. This is not just a change in one person's fate, but a 'quiet declaration' that the entire organization and society has begun to move in the right direction again.