Acting police chief reaffirms efforts for investigative reform

Korea's acting police chief, Kim Jong-chul, has reiterated his commitment to investigative reform following a series of high-profile cases involving alleged misconduct by police officers. This comes in response to the recent revision of the Criminal Procedure Act, which has transferred all investigative power to the police from the prosecution. The police have also established a dedicated body to lead these comprehensive organizational reforms.

The chief's remarks come in the wake of scrutiny over recent cases of alleged misconduct, including an improperly closed missing person case on the southern island of Jeju. At the heart of the issue was a police officer who failed to confirm the safety of a missing woman before closing the case. Regrettably, her body was discovered three months later.

Kim Jong-chul acknowledged faults made at the scene and within the system that resulted in these errors. He emphasized that he takes the responsibility of the leadership seriously and is committed to correcting these issues.