Seven former police officers elected in June 3 local elections

By Kim A-rin, The Herald Business

Seven former police officers won seats in the ninth nationwide simultaneous local elections held Wednesday. Among them, Ryu Sam-young — a former chief superintendent disciplined and forced out of the force after leading a nationwide protest against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's creation of a police bureau within the Ministry of Interior and Safety — was elected district mayor of Seoul's Dongjak-gu. He became only the second former police officer ever elected to a civilian district mayoral post in Seoul.

Shortly after his victory was confirmed, Ryu posted on social media: "I will never lose sight of my original intentions, always communicate with humility, and work tirelessly on the ground. I will be a district mayor who proves himself through action and results, not words."

Ryu, a fourth-generation graduate of the Korean National Police University, served 35 years on the force, holding posts including head of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's anti-corruption and financial crime investigation unit and chief of Ulsan's Jungbu Police Station. In 2022, he led a nationwide gathering of police station chiefs opposing the establishment of a police bureau under the Ministry of Interior and Safety, for which he was disciplined and left the force. After entering politics, he served as a specialist on the political and administrative subcommittee of the Lee Jae Myung government's state affairs planning committee and as the Democratic Party of Korea's district committee chair for Dongjak-gu (B).

Jin Kyo-hoon, a former senior superintendent general, secured reelection as Gangseo-gu district mayor in Seoul. A fifth-generation graduate of the Korean National Police University, Jin previously served as deputy commissioner general and director of the intelligence bureau of the Korean National Police Agency. He retired in 2022 after completing his tenure as deputy commissioner general, then received a strategic nomination as the Democratic Party's candidate in the following year's Gangseo-gu district mayoral by-election. He won by a margin of 17 percentage points in a race that drew wide public attention and set an all-time record for early voting turnout across all local elections and by-elections.

After his reelection was confirmed, Jin posted a photo from his days as a police officer on social media, writing, "I miss those times." He added: "I feel a profound sense of responsibility and duty. I will be a capable, hardworking and warm district mayor."

Former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kim Yong-pan was elected district mayor of Daegu's Dalseo-gu. Kim passed the 30th civil service higher examination before joining the police through a special recruitment process. He also served as a National Assembly member for Dalseo-gu (C) in Daegu during the 21st Assembly. "I want to close out my career in public service as Dalseo-gu district mayor," he said.

Kim Sung-su was reelected as district mayor of Busan's Haeundae-gu. A sixth-generation graduate of the Korean National Police University, Kim spent 30 years on the force, serving as chief of Busan's Haeundae, Yeonje and Seobu police stations, among other posts.

Jeon Jin-seon, former chief of the Yangpyeong Police Station, was elected county governor of Yangpyeong-gun in Gyeonggi Province. Jeon entered the force as a member of the 34th class of police officer candidates and went on to serve as commander of the Incheon International Airport Police Unit and chief of North Chungcheong Province's Yeongdong Police Station and Gyeonggi Province's Yeoju Police Station before retiring in 2018 at the rank of senior superintendent.

Two other newly elected officials also have police backgrounds: Park Sun-beom, elected to the North Gyeongsang Province council, and Kim Dong-ik, elected to the Seo-gu district council in Incheon.