Seoul names new chiefs of civil-judicial police bureau and history museum

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that it has appointed Choi Ik-su, former investigation chief of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, as the new head of its Civil-Judicial Police Bureau, and Choi Young-chang, former head of the National Heritage Promotion Agency, as the new director of the Seoul Museum of History.

Both positions are open-recruitment posts. The two appointees were selected through a process that began with a public application period in September, followed by a screening committee that included outside experts and a recommendation by the personnel committee.

Choi Ik-su entered the police force as a fourth-class graduate of the Korean National Police University and has served as chief of the Gwangjin Police Station and head of the criminal investigation division under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as well as investigation chief at the Busan, Daegu and Gyeonggi Nambu provincial police agencies. The city expects him to strengthen the bureau's special judicial police investigation capabilities and its response to crimes affecting daily life, drawing on his extensive investigative experience and expertise amid changes to the criminal justice system, including amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The Civil-Judicial Police Bureau is the Seoul city department responsible for investigating violations of administrative laws. It handles illegal activities across a wide range of areas, including multi-level marketing, lending, real estate, trademark rights, public hygiene, animal protection, food safety, environmental pollution and pharmaceuticals.

Choi Young-chang began his career as a culture reporter at Munhwa Ilbo and has since served as director of the Jinju National Museum, chairman of the Korea Cultural Foundation and head of the National Heritage Promotion Agency. The city described him as the right person to raise awareness of Seoul's historical and cultural value and to enhance the city's standing as a global cultural hub and the competitiveness of Korean culture, drawing on his broad knowledge and hands-on experience in the cultural heritage field.