Korean police deny rumors of sweeping personnel rotation reforms

The Korean National Police Agency has moved to quell internal speculation regarding significant reforms to its personnel rotation system, specifically addressing rumors of mandatory transfers across all ranks and inter-provincial postings. These rumors gained traction following the investigation into the murder case of high school student Yoon-gi Jang, which had previously cast a shadow over the police's investigative capabilities and raised concerns about internal corruption.

In an internal notice issued on July 21, the Police Agency's personnel division explicitly stated that rumors concerning "rotation across all ranks," "mandatory transfers between provinces," and "rotation for specific departments or positions" are "entirely untrue." The agency urged officers to "not be swayed or anxious by groundless rumors" and to "calmly await the official plan from the National Police Agency."

The impetus for considering reforms to the rotation system stemmed from the Yoon-gi Jang case, prompting the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to announce a review on July 16. The stated aim was to prevent collusion among officers based on regional ties. However, the lack of specific details regarding the scope and methods of application has fueled concerns among frontline officers about the possibility of large-scale personnel changes.

Despite acting Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong previously suggesting on July 20 that "rotating all ranks might pose problems," the ongoing anxiety at the field level necessitated the personnel division's official clarification. The agency assured that while the "large framework of the currently operating rotation system will be maintained," they will "more meticulously review the existing system" to develop "rational measures that gain consensus from both the public and organizational members."

Meanwhile, the National Police Workplace Council is scheduled to hold working-level discussions on July 21 and 22. The council plans to propose the complete abolition of the rotation duty for officers ranked above Superintendent and the regional rotation deployment of provincial mobile units. As the issue of rotation duty becomes a formal agenda item, the pushback from frontline police officers against potential system reforms is becoming more apparent.