Police Commission Also Opposes Presidential Decree on Investigation Authority Adjustment Being 'Solely Overseen by the Ministry of Justice'

Police Commission Plans to Submit Opinion Letter to Relevant Ministries

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Police Commission has also voiced opposition to the presidential decree legislative notice related to the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution. It is unusual for the Police Commission to issue an external statement.

According to the National Police Agency on the 29th, the Police Commission convened an extraordinary meeting on the 26th to receive a report on the National Police Agency's position regarding the presidential decrees on the Criminal Procedure Act and the Prosecutors' Office Act, which the Ministry of Justice announced for legislative notice earlier this month.

At the meeting, the Police Commission reportedly agreed with the National Police Agency's position that the presidential decrees do not faithfully embody the principle of "checks and balances."

The Police Commission is a deliberative administrative body under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety that reviews and decides on major policies related to the police. It plays a role in the democratic control of police administration. It includes members from academia, the legal community, media, and civic groups, and is composed of seven members including the chairman.

The issues raised by the Police Commission include the fact that the presidential decrees are solely overseen by the Ministry of Justice, the re-delegation of the scope of major public officials subject to investigation by prosecutors and the economic crime amount criteria to Ministry of Justice ordinances, and that the prosecution can directly investigate cases without sending them to the police if they obtain only a search and seizure warrant. The Police Commission particularly pointed out that since the presidential decrees are solely managed by the Ministry of Justice, the Police Commission's authority to control the police could become nominal.

The Police Commission plans to soon deliver an opinion letter containing these points to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Justice, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and other related ministries.

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