Police Deny Rumors of 'Universal Rotation' Following Jang Yoon-gi Case Fallout

The National Police Agency has stepped in to quell rumors spreading within the force regarding a potential universal rotation system for all ranks, stating that such claims are not true.

The Personnel Division of the National Police Agency issued an internal notice today (July 21), stating, "Recent rumors regarding the rotation of all ranks, mandatory transfers between cities and provinces, and the rotation of specific departments or positions are entirely groundless."

Previously, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a reform of the police rotation system on July 16, following allegations of poor investigation and internal corruption that emerged from the Jang Yoon-gi case.

The initiative is intended to prevent collusion among police officers based on regional ties.

As the specific scope and methods of the reform have not yet been disclosed, concerns over the possibility of large-scale transfers have been growing among frontline officers. The National Police Agency's statement comes after rumors circulated that the regional rotation system would be expanded to include all ranks.

The National Police Agency explained that while high-intensity reform is being demanded in the wake of the Jang Yoon-gi case, it plans to pursue improvements by carefully reviewing the current rotation system.

The agency also stated that it would address existing issues with the current system, such as insufficient support for official residences, to enhance organizational transparency and vitality while ensuring stable living conditions for frontline officers.

Until now, the police have only restricted senior superintendents from working in the same city or provincial police agency for more than three consecutive years.

The National Police Workplace Council, an organization serving as an alternative to a police union, has decided to officially demand the abolition of the 'rotation system for police inspectors' that has been discussed as a potential new measure.

The council plans to convey feedback from the field to the National Police Agency, arguing that expanding the rotation system is unlikely to be a fundamental solution to internal corruption and could lead to financial burdens from long-distance commuting and a decline in investigative expertise.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Hong Jinyoung | Graphics by Lee Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.