Partial Setback in Police Transfer of Major Crime Investigation Authority... Strengthening Security Investigation Capabilities

Police Agency's Plans for This Year Including TF Formation
Operational Plans Practically Unchangeable
Separately, Strengthening Security Investigation Capabilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The plan to transition the police's counterintelligence investigation system, which will take over counterintelligence investigation authority from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in January 2024, is inevitably facing some setbacks. The police intend to strengthen their own security investigation capabilities independently of the system transition plan.

On the 31st, the National Police Agency announced that earlier this year, as part of expanding the security investigation system for the transfer of counterintelligence investigation authority, it planned to form a "Joint Task Force (TF) of Related Ministries." This plan included a blueprint to prepare and implement specific measures to transfer the counterintelligence investigation system to the police, led by the Blue House Civil Affairs Office, with participation from the National Police Agency, NIS, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Ministry of Economy and Finance. It was planned to decide how and when to transfer NIS personnel, budget, and equipment related to counterintelligence investigation to the police.

However, President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol pledged during his presidential campaign to abolish the Civil Affairs Office and has maintained the same stance after his election. Since the abolition of the Civil Affairs Office is almost certain, the police find it inevitable to change the existing TF operation plan. A police official said, "This was an issue being studied at a government-wide level as a long-term task modeled after the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC)." The NIS also maintains its position not to consider transferring personnel, budget, equipment, and other counterintelligence investigation systems to the police. Recently, the Presidential Transition Committee expressed common concerns about this counterintelligence transfer issue during briefings with both the NIS and the police. At that time, the transition committee reportedly requested the establishment of a roadmap to ensure no security investigation gaps in the police and to renegotiate with the NIS.

The police are determined to develop the capabilities necessary for counterintelligence investigations. As part of this, they plan to secure the required personnel quota for the National Police Agency next year to increase counterintelligence investigation staff. In the mid-to-long term, they also plan to dispatch security investigation cooperation officers to key countries. Externally, the police are preparing to establish a "Security Crime Information Cooperation Center," involving the NIS, Security Support Command, Ministry of Justice, and Korea Coast Guard. The center is nearly complete, and once established, it will enable real-time sharing of information related to security crimes. The police expect this to supplement their current weaknesses in overseas security-related information.

Collaboration with the NIS will also continue. Through the Security Investigation Council, launched last year following the revision of the NIS Act, the police plan to conduct joint investigations of NIS cases to dramatically improve security investigation capabilities. The Chungbuk Dongjihoe case last year is cited as a success of the Security Investigation Council. A police official said, "This year as well, there are several cases under joint investigation with the NIS," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the NIS through joint investigations."

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