Suspect Appearance Dates to Be Sent via Text... Police Establish Human Rights Protection Rules for Investigations

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] In the future, suspects and parties involved in cases will be able to coordinate their appearance schedules by phone and then receive the schedule and case name again via text message. The police will stop electronic information searches if they discover separate charges and will not be allowed to resume the search without proper authority.

On the 14th, the National Police Agency announced the legislative notice of the amendment to the "Human Rights Protection Rules Regarding Police Investigations" containing these provisions. The announced "Human Rights Protection Rules Regarding Police Investigations" define citizens' rights at each investigation procedure stage so that individuals can easily understand their rights at each step. It strengthens suspects' rights and the right to legal assistance and specifies careful protection for socially vulnerable groups. Additionally, these rules were enacted as a Ministry of the Interior and Safety ordinance in the form of a regulatory order, increasing their external binding force.

Looking at the main contents, lawyers participating in future police investigations will be allowed to take notes, including using electronic devices. The rules aim to prevent secondary damage to crime victims during investigations, and specifically state that evidence materials related to violence against women or photos and videos from child sexual crimes must not be disclosed to third parties. If the victim is socially vulnerable, a trusted person may accompany them during the investigation, and with consent, video recording is permitted. Furthermore, when investigating illiterate suspects, visually impaired individuals, or those requiring interpretation, the process must be recorded. For the first time in investigative agencies, it is also stipulated that individuals must be informed of their right to refuse voluntary submission of items during seizure.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "Human rights are not simply standards that the police must observe but are the core values of the police realized through police activities," adding, "We will do our best to realize this through the enactment of these rules."

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