Police chief nominee mired in scandal

The National Police Agency chief designate Jo Hyun-oh is facing mounting pressure to withdraw as his controversial remarks have angered liberal opposition parties and civic groups while embarrassing the ruling camp. 

Aside from his defamatory remarks toward the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, Jo was also found to have made controversial statements earlier this year about the protests against U.S. beef imports in 2008.

“Nobody has died from a water canon shot,” the then-Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief said in a lecture for police officials.

“It may even give a pleasant winter-like chill in summertime, when appropriately mixed with tear gas.”

His words were recorded on an in-house police CD which was recently leaked to the media.

Jo also said that the U.S. police would respond more violently to illicit protesters who crossed over the police line or used weapons, and as such praised Korean police for abiding by the basic principles of human rights.

The top police official came under fire last Friday as a broadcaster aired his remarks on Roh and the family members of the sunken navy corvette Cheonan.

Jo was quoted earlier this year as saying that Roh committed suicide the day after it was discovered be allegedly had a bank account in someone else's name.

The prosecution, however, said Monday that Jo’s words were groundless and that he had no direct supervisory authority over the Roh case at the time.

Jo also described the Cheonan victims’ families as “wailing and shouting like animals,” requesting that they restrain themselves.