On March 27th, President Yoon Seok-yeol designated Woo Jong-su as the new head of the National Investigation Headquarters. Woo, who is 55 years old and was the chief of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency, will begin his two-year term on March 29th. This appointment fills the vacancy that began when attorney Jeong Soon-shin dropped out due to school violence against his children. After nearly a month of deliberation between external recruitment and internal selection, Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun recommended Commissioner Woo for the position. Woo is considered an investigative expert with a thorough public service record and excellent leadership abilities, and was praised for his work directing the investigation into the Druking Comment Manipulation case. The head of the National Investigation Headquarters is an influential position that commands over 30,000 investigative policemen and police chiefs across the country.
On the 27th, President Yoon Seok-yeol appointed Woo Jong-su (55), chief of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency, as the second head of the National Investigation Headquarters. Woo will start his two-year term after receiving a letter of appointment from the president on the 29th.
As a result, the vacancy in the head of the Noodle Headquarters, which began on the 25th of last month when attorney Jeong Soon-shin (57), a former prosecutor, dropped out due to school violence against his children, ended after 30 days.
Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun pondered for nearly a month between external re-commissioning and internal selection, and recently decided to select internal personnel and recommended Commissioner Woo to the Presidential Office.
In the case of an external public offering, which takes more than a month for the selection process, there is a possibility that the vacancy situation will be prolonged, and the atmosphere inside the organization that wants a former police officer was also taken into account.
The fact that outsiders, such as former prosecutors, were passive in supporting the head of the noodle headquarters due to the lawyer Jung scandal also had an impact.
Commissioner Yoon said, “The new Noodle Headquarters Director Woo has a high understanding of public security administration in general, and is highly trusted within the organization for his thorough public service and reasonable work style.” said the reason for the recommendation.
Woo is considered an investigative expert with extensive experience in front-line investigation departments.
Inside the police, he is evaluated as a ‘deokjang’ with excellent leadership and gentle tolerance as well as investigative planning skills.
Director Woo, who was born in Seoul and graduated from Sungkyunkwan University, joined the police in 1999 as a special hire for the administrative exam (38th). He served as Chief of the Seoul Yongsan Police Station, Personnel Officer at the National Police Agency, Public Security Policy Officer at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, Chief of the Investigation Department at the Seoul National Police Agency, Scientific Investigation Manager at the National Police Agency, Chief of the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency, Chief of the Criminal Bureau at the National Police Agency, and Deputy Chief of the National Police Agency.
In 2018, when he was the head of the investigation department at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, he directed the investigation into ‘Druking Comment Manipulation’. When he was deputy chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, he served as the team leader of the task force (TF) dedicated to the investigation of the late Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment.
He has also accumulated experience in the field of information and foreign affairs, such as the head of the 1st Information Division of the National Police Agency, the head of the Foreign Affairs Planning Division, and the resident officer in Russia.
Before joining the police force, he worked for one year at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, the predecessor of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and at the National Intelligence Service for three years and two months.
The head of the Noodle Headquarters commands over 30,000 investigative policemen across the country, as well as the heads of 18 city and provincial police agencies and police chiefs across the country. Regarding the police investigation, it is a position with greater influence than the chief of police.
In conclusion, the long-awaited appointment of the new head of the National Investigation Headquarters has finally been settled. Woo Jong-su, a seasoned police officer with extensive experience in front-line investigation departments, has been selected for the role. His appointment comes after a month-long period of consideration by Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, who ultimately recommended an internal candidate to avoid prolonging the vacancy situation. Woo is highly trusted within the police organization for his thorough public service, reasonable work style, and excellent leadership skills. As the new head of the Noodle Headquarters, he will command over 30,000 investigative policemen across the country and have greater influence over police investigations than the chief of police. We wish him all the best in his new role.