Police: "Six Months Since Investigation Authority Adjustment Implementation... Stabilization of System and Procedures"

Investigation Control Device Operating Smoothly
220,000 People Released from 'Suspect Status' After Police Case Closure
"Committed to Strengthening Investigation Capabilities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Marking six months since the implementation of the investigative authority adjustment, the police have expressed that the new system is being smoothly established. The police plan to continuously pursue follow-up tasks such as strengthening investigative capabilities, reinforcing personnel, and expanding infrastructure.

According to the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency on the 6th, the monthly number of cases handled by the police since the implementation of the investigative authority adjustment in January this year has gradually recovered to previous levels: 132,430 cases in January, 130,732 in February, 191,731 in March, 188,080 in April, 187,860 in May, and 207,764 in June. Due to the enforcement of the revised Criminal Procedure Act, the number of cases handled in January decreased to 65% compared to the same period last year, but after adapting to the system from March onwards, it recovered to 97-99%.

Previously, only prosecutors could close cases referred by the police, but now that the police can close cases, the procedure has changed to include various prosecutorial control measures. Prosecutors' requests for supplementary investigations on referred cases amounted to 31,482 from January to June this year, accounting for 9.7% of all referred cases. Regarding the increase from the usual 4.1%, the police analyzed that "prosecutors now request matters that they could previously handle directly from the police, and prosecutors are more strictly reviewing investigation records as they focus more on filing and maintaining indictments."

Additionally, requests for reinvestigation by prosecutors on cases closed without indictment by the police stood at 5,584 as of the end of June, accounting for only 3.2% of all non-indictment decisions. Prosecutors' correction requests numbered 1,275 during the same period, representing 3.2% of all suspended investigations. The police explained that most of these correction requests are for additional investigations to trace suspects in cases where the suspect could not be identified or their whereabouts were unknown, leading the police to decide on 'suspension of investigation.' Furthermore, cases where complainants directly filed objections to the police's non-indictment decisions and referred them to the prosecution numbered 9,879.

The police also self-assessed that cooperation with the prosecution is proceeding smoothly. Since December last year, the National Police Agency has been communicating regularly through ten sessions of the 'Working-Level Council' with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and metropolitan and provincial police agencies and police stations are also consulting with local prosecutors' offices and branches to resolve major cases.

The effects of the investigative authority adjustment are also emerging. As the police can now make primary investigative conclusions, approximately 157,000 cases closed without indictment have allowed about 220,000 suspects to be released earlier from 'suspect status.' Based on last year's estimates, the police expect that about 500,000 people will be released earlier from suspect status this year. The police explained that this will also alleviate the inconvenience of 'double investigations,' where suspects had to appear again before the prosecution.

The police plan to thoroughly implement follow-up measures for the investigative authority adjustment. To strengthen investigative expertise, they have established a personnel system centered on 'specialized investigators' who possess abundant investigative experience and knowledge, and have also set up an education system to train competent investigators. Additionally, they will consult with the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution to improve areas requiring institutional supplementation and plan to pursue additional personnel increases and budget expansions.

A police official stated, "We will strive to expand infrastructure to support investigative sites, improve the quality of investigative services such as notifications and guidance to complainants, and cooperate with the prosecution to adjust and develop detailed procedures in system operation. While supplementing previously insufficient areas, we will continue efforts to realize 'people-centered responsible investigations' and become a National Investigation Headquarters that the public can trust and rely on."

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