경찰청장 대행 “실종 수사 시스템 실패” 인정…“보완수사권과는 별개”

The acting Chairman of the Korea Police Agency, <name>Yoo Jae-sung</name>, acknowledged the "failure of the disappearance investigation system" in the case of Ms. Jeon Mi-ra's disappearance. While he promised to issue immediate measures to conclude cases, he admitted that similar investigative practices could be widespread in the flawed system.

During a session of the National Assembly's Executive Committee for Administration and Safety on the 24th, <name>Yoo Jae-sung</name> stated, "There are problems with the disappearance system." He added, "The system is capable of concluding (disappearance) cases." Subsequently, he instructed, "We will improve the system immediately, and until it is improved, decisions should be made through manual signatures of team leaders and deputy chiefs."

When asked by Park Chwen-il of the more-progressive Democratic Party whether this was a "special case," <name>Yoo Jae-sung</name> agreed that the issue lay "outside of special measures." The case involved the <name>Jeju Sub-provincial Police Station</name>'s disappearance team, which, in May, had a team leader falsely declare that they had contacted the complainant and subsequently removed the case from the disappearance profiling system.

Police protocols dictate that disappearance cases must be reported to superiors and verified through direct contact, but the system allowed a single officer to falsify the conclusion of a case without repercussions. <name>Yoo Jae-sung</name> questioned why the manual was not followed, promising to verify its compliance. Meanwhile, calls have emerged linking the repeated failures of police investigations to the suspension of the "search and seizure authority" of prosecutors.

Representative Seo Myung-uk of the more-progressive GNP Party noted that the most concerning aspect of the loss of this authority in the past was the investigation chief. However, <name>Yoo Jae-sung</name> drew a distinction, stating, "This case is a different issue from the authority restoration." At the Assembly on the 2nd, upcoming responsibility for the relocation of the <name>Special Criminal Investigation Agency (SCIA)</name> (the "mid-level agency") was raised.

Representative Gwon Yong-jin of more-progressive GNP questioned whether two months would be sufficient for the transfer of pending cases and "stopped cases," to the mid-level agency, expressing concern about potential lapses in regulation if the transfer is not completed. In response, Prosecutor General <name>Yoo</name> said that the transfer to the SCIA should occur by October 2nd, but if cases are lost or mixed during the transfer, they may be released under regulation, potentially allowing some cases to remain under the prosecutor's jurisdiction.

He added that extreme cases notwithstanding, the chaos could lead to the release of convicts. The Prosecutor General affirmed that the transfer should occur by October 2nd, though any cases extending beyond that would fall under temporary jurisdiction at the new agency. The Prosecutor General also emphasized that the issue of transfer would reduce pending cases.

Finally, <name>Yoo</name> disclosed that 82.6% of prosecutors, amounting to 2376 individuals, would be supporting the SCIA. Specific numbers for judicial assistants were not provided.