Hong Seok-ki stresses role of police investigators

The report said Hong Seok-ki, the new head of the National Office of Investigation, presided over a videoconference with nationwide investigation command staff on the morning of 2026. 07. 03 and issued a message on the first day of his official term. Hong said the current situation was 'a more severe time than ever, with a major reorganization of the criminal justice system also ahead.'

Hong said police investigators should not lose sight of their basic role in protecting daily safety and maintaining legal order, according to the report. He said, 'At times like this, police investigators must not be negligent in the slightest in their original role of protecting daily safety and legal order.'

The report said Hong also gave guidance on crime response and investigative procedures. Hong said police should respond strictly to crimes that threaten public safety, including phishing(financial fraud) crimes and drugs, and added that investigators should 'conduct investigations fairly according to the law and procedures, while also doing everything possible to protect victims.'

According to the report, Hong told investigation command staff across the country to pay attention to both field operations and organizational management. He said, 'Please look carefully at the field and pay special attention to managing your staff so they can focus on the work they have been assigned.'

The report said Hong had been the Korean National Police Agency's Investigation Bureau chief at the rank of Senior Superintendent General. He was selected on the previous day, the 2nd, as head of the National Office of Investigation, which oversees police investigations, and was promoted to Chief Superintendent General. The National Office of Investigation chief has a 2-year term.

Hong began his official term without a separate inauguration ceremony, according to the report. The report said he is from Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, graduated from Jecheon High School and the Korean National Police University as part of its 8th class, entered the police in 1991, and has served as the Korean National Police Agency's cyber investigation review officer, head of the Public Safety Department at the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency and chief of Seoul Gangseo Police Station. He had led the National Office of Investigation's Investigation Bureau since September last year.