Jung Jeom-sik Urges Lee to Appoint Police Chief Before Pushing for Reform

Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged President Lee Jae-myung on August 26 to appoint a police chief before advocating for police reform.

During a general meeting at the National Assembly, Jung criticized the president's recent directive for police reform, stating, "To call for grand police reform now, citing public concerns, is akin to closing the barn door after the horse has bolted."

He noted, "The original intent of prosecutorial reform was to reduce the power of the prosecution. While many experts and opposition members agreed with this intent, there were concerns that a misguided approach could inadvertently enhance police power."

Jung continued, "However, the Lee Jae-myung administration completely ignored these warnings and pushed through adjustments to investigative powers, the complete deprivation of prosecutorial authority, and the dismantling of the prosecution, concentrating significant power in the police, driven solely by an obsession with attacking the prosecution."

He also criticized Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-sik for making remarks about a missing person case in Jeju, suggesting it was an individual’s misconduct that became a national news burden for the administration. Jung stated, "Instead of reflecting on their role in damaging the police system, they are only concerned with public opinion, prioritizing the administration's stability over the safety of citizens. This is a truly irresponsible ruling force."

Jung described the ongoing acting police chief system, which has lasted over a year and eight months, as a "clear dereliction of duty" by the president.

He asserted, "The president has delayed appointing the police chief, responsible for national security, without providing any valid reasons. The growing criticism and distrust towards the police stem from a few bad officers, the Democratic Party's mismanagement that has undermined the police system, and the unstable acting leadership under this president."

Furthermore, he remarked, "Concerns and distrust towards the police did not arise suddenly. They have accumulated over time following the Moon Jae-in administration's adjustments to investigative powers and the complete deprivation of prosecutorial authority, and are now coming to a head."

Jung concluded by stating, "The People Power Party will begin working on fundamental police reform proposals, aiming for structural solutions that comprehensively review the investigative system, rather than the piecemeal fixes characteristic of the Lee Jae-myung administration's approach after concentrating power in the police."