"Increase Investigators and Promptly Introduce the 'Qualification Management System'... First Recommendation from the Police Investigation Review Committee"

Recommendation to Improve Personnel Structure of Investigation Department Centered on Judicial Police Officers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A recommendation has been made to promptly implement the 'Qualification Management System' to strengthen the capabilities of investigative police officers and to increase the number of field police officers responsible for handling various investigative issues.

The Police Investigation Review Committee announced the personnel innovation recommendations for investigative police officers containing these details on the 1st. Established in April this year, the Police Investigation Review Committee serves an advisory and recommendation role regarding major investigative policies promoted by the National Investigation Headquarters. This recommendation is the first since the committee's formation.

In the recommendation, the committee explained the purpose, stating, "Since the police now have the minimum 'foundation' to fully conduct investigations as the investigative authority, the focus should shift to improving the 'qualitative level' to provide benefits that the public can tangibly experience."

The committee first recommended promptly implementing measures to strengthen human resources, such as introducing the 'Qualification Management System' promoted by the police, creating a work environment that can foster expertise, providing opportunities for young police officers to enter investigative departments, and expanding competitive recruitment of experts with experience in various fields.

Furthermore, reflecting the changed investigative procedures and rapidly evolving crime environment, the committee recommended increasing the number of practical investigators and adjusting the ranks in investigative departments to be centered on judicial police officers (sergeant and above). Considering the need to train judicial police assistants (corporal and below) into judicial police officers and the schedule for consultations with related ministries, a phased approach to assigning up to 70% is planned. The committee also recommended researching and promoting long-term measures to improve the structural distinction between judicial police officers and judicial police assistants.

The National Police Agency plans to use this recommendation as an opportunity to shift the personnel composition of investigative departments to be centered on judicial police officers and to promote the increase of field practical investigators. They also plan to implement measures to enhance the individual capabilities of investigators. Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency, stated, "We agree with the intent of the recommendation and will faithfully implement the recommendations to resolve public inconveniences that may arise during police investigations and concerns regarding fairness, neutrality, and expertise."

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