“Stop the retaliatory personnel decisions that are threatening the organization.” Ryu Sam-young, who organized the “meeting of police chiefs,” hands in his resignation

Senior Superintendent Ryu Sam-young, who was subject to disciplinary measures after organizing a meeting of police chiefs (senior superintendents) nationwide in opposition to the establishment of the Police Bureau in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety last year, submits his letter of resignation at the Civil Service Office of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on July 31. Jo Tae-hyeong

Senior Superintendent Ryu Sam-young, who organized a meeting of police chiefs (senior superintendents) nationwide against the establishment of the Police Bureau last year, submitted his resignation at the National Police Agency on July 31.

Ryu held a press conference at the Police Memorial Park in Jung-gu, Seoul on Monday morning and said, “I take pride in the fact that as a member of the police organization, which protects the lives and safety of the citizens, I have worked harder than anyone to do my utmost in my given tasks with a sense of duty for the past thirty-five years.” He then said, “I find it hard to witness the fundamental neutrality of the police being threatened by a series of incidents that occurred in the past year,” and announced, “So I have decided to resign to maintain the pride of the 140,000 police officers.”

While explaining the backdrop for his resignation, Ryu said, “I earnestly appeal to the police commissioner general. Make my resignation be the last and stop any more retaliatory personnel decisions that threaten the entire organization and fulfill your duty as a commissioner general to protect the organization from unjust outside pressure.” He also asked the people to protect the police organization so that it could eagerly work with pride as a police serving the country and the people and not one used as an instrument of power.

Ryu was subject to disciplinary action, a three-month suspension, last December for organizing a meeting of senior superintendents against the establishment of the Police Bureau in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety last July. Recently, he was transferred to lead the 112 public safety situation room at the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, which was accepted as a personnel decision intended to humiliate Ryu.

The head of a 112 situation center was a position assigned to superintendents before the police introduced a policy that allowed officers in various ranks to fill the same position this year. Ryu entered the National Police University three years earlier than Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun and has served as senior superintendent for eight years. The police also stirred controversy after assigning those who attended the police chief meeting to 112 situation centers in metropolitan and provincial police agencies in the regular personnel transfers in February.

When a reporter asked about Ryu’s future plans, he said, “I don’t know what tasks I will be given since I’ve never resigned before, but I am thinking of using various methods to tell the stories I couldn’t tell because the organization put a bit in my mouth.” He also said, “I am writing a book about the Police Bureau incident, and I plan to frankly share advice that can help citizens as well as the police through my book or through the popular YouTube.”
As for rumors about his bid in the parliamentary elections, Ryu said, “When it comes to politics, I don’t think I have what it takes to enter politics.” After the press conference, Ryu delivered his letter of resignation to the Civil Service Office of the National Police Agency. Eight officers from the Police Officers’ Council were with Ryu during the press conference.