Ex-Police Chiefs Oppose Command Shift

Following reserve generals and intellectuals, including incumbent and retired professors, former top police officers will also issue a statement against Korea’s retrieval of wartime command control.

This is the first time for retired senior police officers to express their disagreement against the government policy as a group.

Twenty-five retired directors of the National Police Agency (NPA), including Huh Joon-young and Choi Gi-moon are reportedly participating in the joint statement.

“Among the some 30 former directors of the NPA alive, 25 have decided to join the statement,” said Kim Hyo-eun (aged 70), the first director of the NPA under the Kim Young-sam administration.

They are planning to make the statement in a press conference scheduled to be held on Monday at the Korea Press Center, downtown Seoul. Some 200 senior police officers, including retired directors of the NPA are anticipated to partake in the event.

“The issue of the transfer of wartime operational control is a matter of life and death for the nation. Most of the former chiefs of the NPA have decided to join their hands together because they are worried about the nation and the statement does not convey any political intention.” Kim stressed.

“Former directors of the NPA Hwang Yong-ha and Lee Pal-ho have declined to join the statement out of personal convictions that they would stay away from community activities after retirement. Sohn Dal-yong and Yoo Heung-soo, another two former herds of the police, could not join us due to their ailing health,” Kim added.

egija@donga.com