Who is Kim Jong-yang?
South Korean beats controversial Russian candidate to become new president of Interpol
Interpol has selected a South Korean as its new president, edging out a controversial Russian candidate.
Kim Jong-yang, who had been serving as acting president, was elected for a two-year term at the international police body’s annual congress in Dubai, Al Jazeera reports.
The result came despite “Moscow’s efforts to reserve the position” for Alexander Prokopchuk, a former KGB service member who was strongly opposed by the US, the UK and other European Union nations.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Russian was favourite to take over as president from China’s Meng Hongwei, who resigned after being detained in his home country in September on corruption charges, The Independent adds.
Opposing Prokopchuk’s candidacy, UK Foreign Office minister Harriett Baldwin yesterday told MPs in the Commons that “we always seek to endorse candidates who have a history of observing standards of international behaviour”.
In the event, Kim was chosen for the role at Interpol’s general assembly, which means he secured at least two-thirds of the votes. He will serve a two-year term as head of Interpol, completing the term that Meng began.
The South Korean is a police official in South Korea, and formerly served as chief of his country’s Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, according to the KBS World Radio news site. Kim also served as a vice-president representing Asia on Interpol’s Executive Committee between 2015 and 2018.
His election as the international police authority’s new president has been well received by the British Foreign Office, with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeting his congratulations.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Climate studies are increasingly becoming politicized'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 6, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - university encampments, Florida's abortion ban, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Boeing and NASA ready first crewed Starliner flight
Speed Read Two NASA astronauts are heading to the International Space Station
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Weinstein's appeal: a blow to #MeToo
Talking Point Is 'shocking' reversal of symbolic conviction a sign of weakening movement?
By The Week UK Published
-
Do youth curfews work?
Today's big question Banning unaccompanied children from towns and cities is popular with some voters but is contentious politically
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Sydney mall attacker may have targeted women
Speed Read Police commissioner says gender of victims is 'area of interest' to investigators
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why are kidnappings in Nigeria on the rise again?
Today's Big Question Hundreds of children and displaced people are missing as kidnap-for-ransom 'bandits' return
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
How the idyllic Galapagos Islands became staging post in world drug trade
Under the radar Ecuador's crackdown on gang violence forces drug traffickers into Pacific routes to meet cocaine demand
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Armed gangs, prison breaks and on-air hostages: how Ecuador was plunged into crisis
The Explainer Gangs launch deadly revenge after president declares state of emergency following escape of feared drug boss from prison
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ecuador tips toward chaos amid prison breaks, armed TV takeover
Speed Read New President Daniel Noboa authorized the military to 'neutralize' powerful drug-linked gangs after they unleashed violence and terror across Ecuador
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published