Enforcement Decree of Investigation Authority Adjustment Sparks Police Backlash... 'Relay Protests' Unfold

Proposal by Detective Hwang Soon-chul, Over 400 Teams Including Investigation and Criminal Divisions Participate

Relay protest criticizing the legislative notice of the presidential decree on investigation authority adjustment posted on the police internal network.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Opposition within the police continues over the legislative notice draft of the enforcement decree related to the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police. Frontline police officers have launched a 'one-person relay protest' condemning the legislative notice draft on the police internal network.

According to multiple police officials on the 21st, since the day before, posts with certification photos opposing the draft enforcement decree of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Prosecutors' Office Act, which the Ministry of Justice announced for legislative notice on the 7th, have started to appear on the police internal network, mainly from frontline officers in investigation and criminal departments. As of 10 a.m. that day, about 400 teams and over 1,500 frontline police officers had participated. The number of participants is expected to increase further.

The one-person relay protest, initiated by Hwang Soon-cheol, an investigation examiner (Inspector) at the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, was carried out as a criticism of the exclusion of the National Police Agency's opinions during the drafting process of the legislative notice. Inspector Hwang stated in a post titled "Starting the one-person relay protest with a heavy heart," "As a member of the police, I am starting this online protest with a heart that feels like vomiting blood, seeing the prosecution reform going astray."

The main points of police opposition are that the enforcement decree of the Criminal Procedure Act is solely managed by the Ministry of Justice, and that the enforcement decree of the Prosecutors' Office Act grants prosecutors interpretative and discretionary authority to expand direct investigations. The inclusion of drug crimes and cybercrimes among the six major crimes subject to direct prosecution by the prosecution is also a major target of criticism.

Police officers participating in the relay took photos holding hand placards with various phrases such as "No to Ministry of Justice sole management, Yes to joint management with the National Police Agency," "Enact the enforcement decree in accordance with the legislative intent of the amended law," and "Significantly revise the flawed legislative notice draft," and posted them as a way to participate.

The National Police Agency previously criticized the legislative notice draft and stated that it would make every effort to revise it so that the intent of the amended law can be properly realized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.