Police to enhance case notification service

Seoul, October 19 (Yonhap) - Police announced plans on Monday to revamp their case notification service, aiming to better inform victims and complainants about crucial updates, including suspect apprehension or questioning. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) stated this enhancement is part of a broader move towards a citizen-focused approach to public safety.

Presently, victims and complainants can only view a generic "under investigation" status on the Criminal Justice Portal, making it challenging to track specific developments. To tackle this issue, the police intend to create a system enabling users to check key details, such as suspect apprehension or questioning, while expanding the service's information offerings.

The KNPA intends to seek guidance from the Personal Information Protection Commission to determine if notifying victims and complainants about suspect status, including detention, would contravene personal data protection laws. The agency aims to roll out the improved service by the end of the year, with technical preparations underway concurrently.

Concurrently, police are contemplating renaming the KNPA from "Agency" to "Service," aligning with the goal of transforming the organization to prioritize public safety and rights.