Police to strengthen whistleblower protections following investigative authority reform

The Korean National Police Agency plans to enhance whistleblower protections as part of its efforts to reform and strengthen internal oversight following a recent legal change that grants investigative authority solely to the police. The agency aims to increase officers' confidence in reporting wrongdoing and prevent potential retaliation.

To safeguard whistleblowers' identities, the agency will permit reports to be submitted through legal representatives. Additionally, the agency is collaborating with other organizations to explore methods to cover the legal expenses of whistleblowers. In an effort to encourage more whistleblowing, the maximum financial reward for reporting legal violations will be increased to 100 million won ($70,497), up from the current 27 million won.

These measures were reviewed and approved by the Korean National Police Commission earlier in the day. The changes come after the National Assembly passed a revised Criminal Procedure Act last month, which stripped investigative authority from other agencies and transferred it exclusively to the police.