Police chief nominee defends attendance at Cabinet meetings

Kim Jong-chul, the prospective commissioner general for the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), defended his attendance at Cabinet meetings on Monday. He stated that his presence at such gatherings is essential and will not undermine the independence of police investigations or their political neutrality. The KNPA chief, who does not belong to the State Council, has not historically attended Cabinet meetings; however, he has done so in his role as acting KNPA chief under President Lee Jae Myung's administration.

Additional attendees at recent Cabinet meetings include Kim Ji-yong, the founding head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, and acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyun. Despite facing criticism from opposition parties that their attendance could jeopardize the political neutrality and independence of their agencies, Kim Ji-yong and Lee Jeong-hyun have continued to participate in these meetings presided over by President Lee.

Kim Jong-chul clarified that he has attended Cabinet meetings on numerous occasions, but none of these occasions involved the discussion of specific cases. He emphasized that attending Cabinet meetings is crucial for sharing the direction of state affairs and facilitating communication between the police and other government bodies.