Police to launch dedicated body for reform this week

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- An independent body dedicated to reforming the police will be established this week, the police announced on Sunday. This move comes as calls for reform have intensified following a legal revision that will transfer investigative authority from prosecutors to the police. Concerns have also arisen due to a missing person case on South Korea's Jeju island, where a police officer prematurely closed multiple cases without verifying the safety of those reported missing.

The agency stated this initiative is in line with their promise to fundamentally reform the police. The new acting head of the Korean National Police Agency, Kim Jong-chul, received briefing on key issues from senior officials over the weekend. Kim emphasized the importance of field officers understanding the revised investigation procedures and instructed officials to ensure all police receive adequate training this month to familiarize themselves with the revised Criminal Procedure Act.

This act will relinquish prosecutors' investigative authority to the police. President Lee Jae Myung has also stressed the urgency of police reform, stating that the police will soon hold more power than any other government agency.