Police to launch dedicated body for reform this week

A new dedicated body will be established this week to advocate for comprehensive changes to the police force, according to the police, who announced the move on Sunday. The decision comes as there is increasing demand for such reforms, following a legal amendment that will grant police investigative authority over prosecutorial investigations.

The call for police reform has also intensified due to a recent controversy surrounding a missing person case on the southern island of Jeju. In this case, a police officer prematurely closed multiple missing person investigations without verifying the safety of those reported missing.

The move is part of a promise to fundamentally reform the police, as stated by the agency in a press notice. The notice further noted that specific details regarding the reform body will be announced later. The announcement came after Kim Jong-chul, the new acting head of the Korean National Police Agency, received briefing from senior officials on crucial pending matters over the weekend.

Kim emphasized the importance of ensuring that police officers in the field are well-informed about the revised investigation procedures. He also instructed officials to ensure that all police officers receive adequate training this month to familiarize themselves with the revised Criminal Code.