Acting police chief reaffirms efforts for investigative reform

Korea's acting police chief, Kim Jong-chul, on Monday reiterated his commitment to investigative reform following high-profile instances of alleged police misconduct. The police recently established a dedicated unit to spearhead comprehensive organizational reforms, a move prompted by a recent amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that will transfer all investigative authority from the prosecution to the police.

However, the reforms are also occurring amidst scrutiny over recent allegations of misconduct, including an improperly closed missing person case on the southern island of Jeju.

Acting Police Chief Kim Jong-chul admitted to faults made at the scene and issues with the system that failed to identify the missing woman. He emphasized that he takes responsibility seriously and will take corrective action. The case on Jeju sparked public outrage after a police officer closed the case without verifying the safety of the missing woman, whose body was discovered three months later, around the time the new police reforms were announced.