2021 Yongdusa-mi Police

Adjustment of Investigation Authority and Implementation of Autonomous Police
From Real Estate Speculation Investigation
to Weak Response in Violent Cases
A Year Marked by Controversy

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police's year has been marked by various controversies. It began with what was described as a 'great upheaval' since its establishment, with the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police and the implementation of the autonomous police system. However, it faced endless criticism over issues such as investigations into real estate speculation, handling of protests, and inadequate responses to serious crimes.

From the investigation into real estate speculation allegations that swept the nation in the first half of the year, the police showed signs of faltering. The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency initially had 770 investigators but increased the number to 1,560, signaling a large-scale investigation. However, it was ultimately criticized as a 'flash in the pan.' The sluggish investigation failed to achieve significant results, especially regarding high-ranking officials such as members of the National Assembly. Even 10 months after the launch of the government joint special investigation headquarters, only four lawmakers have been referred for prosecution.

The autonomous police system, fully implemented in July, has been evaluated as 'half-baked' and has yet to demonstrate any presence. There are even assessments that the original purpose of implementing region-specific security policies has been rendered meaningless. Professor Kwak Dae-kyung of Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration said, "The division of roles within the autonomous police has not been properly established, only increasing confusion on the front lines," adding, "A clear role definition is necessary next year." Controversy also arose over the police's response to protests amid the COVID-19 situation. In particular, criticism was raised about discriminatory responses related to the self-employed groups' protests conducted as 'single-vehicle demonstrations' and the large-scale surprise gatherings by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in downtown Seoul.

The climax of controversy was the inadequate response to the 'Incheon inter-floor noise stabbing incident' and the 'Seoul Jung-gu officetel stalking murder case' that occurred last month. The police faced unprecedented severe criticism for failing to properly protect the public. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University’s Department of Police Science pointed out, "The problem arose because the 'waist' of the police?the local police stations and sub-stations that interact with citizens?were weak," adding, "The police's appearance has changed, but it has become irrelevant to the citizens."

Last year, the police faced controversies over the inadequate investigation of former Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu and the response to the Jeong-in case. However, this year, they repeated the same controversies, causing public distrust. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk suggested, "The police paradigm must change with the mindset of renewing everything," and recommended, "Discretion should be given to the field, and through clear rewards and punishments, the police should become an institution that does not make the public feel uneasy." Professor Kwak Dae-kyung said, "There is still distrust in the police's ability to conduct independent investigations," emphasizing, "It is necessary to strengthen professional investigative capabilities and, above all, improve scientific and objective investigative skills."

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