Ahead of the implementation of the revised Criminal Procedure Act on October 2, the police will introduce a "mutual avoidance system" starting early next month that prohibits police officers from directly investigating cases involving their spouses or direct ascendants and descendants, transferring them to other police offices.
The Korean National Police Agency held a meeting of the "Task Force for Follow-up Measures on the Revised Criminal Procedure Act" today (August 7) to discuss follow-up measures, including this content.
Through its first comprehensive inspection conducted in the wake of the Jang Yoon-ki case, the National Police Agency identified 117 cases involving police families.
Police family cases refer to those where parties involved—including pre-indictment investigations—are the spouses or direct ascendants and descendants of police officers currently working at the police station handling the case, or those who have worked at the respective police office within the past three years.
The police decided to apply the mutual avoidance system to cases involving spouses and direct ascendants and descendants of police officers starting early next month.
In addition, in line with the regular personnel reshuffle in the second half of the year, the National Office of Investigation will transfer and reorganize its investigative inspection functions to the Human Rights Audit Officer's Office and launch an internal corruption investigation unit.
With the aim of enhancing the independence of investigative inspection functions to strengthen the objectivity and fairness of police investigations, the police plan to implement this first through internal guidelines and later establish a legal basis through revisions to official directives.
Detailed plans will also be drawn up to strengthen management and oversight of cases requested or demanded by prosecutors, as well as to establish a subcommittee for vulnerable social groups within the Police Investigation Deliberation Committee.
A "proxy reporting system by legal counsel" to protect the identities of whistleblowers will also be introduced.
Furthermore, the police decided to push for revisions to the Police Act within the year to substantiate the National Police Commission, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Police Investigation Deliberation Committee and establishing police investigation human rights and inspection bodies.
Ways to secure manpower following the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act were also discussed at today's meeting.
Reflecting the decrease in illegal and violent protests and demonstrations, the police decided to downsize the riot police units and reinforce investigative personnel by 881 through the reallocation of manpower.
Regarding additional manpower requirements, the police decided to continuously review securing measures, including consultations with relevant ministries and internal adjustments.
The police stated that they will disclose the progress of tasks under review to strengthen investigative fairness as discussions conclude, and that follow-up regulatory refinements and investigation procedure improvements will be discussed centering around the National Office of Investigation.
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