Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Checks 'Complete Prosecution Reform' Right After Inauguration?… Launch of Police System Improvement Committee

Consisting of Professors and Lawyers Advocating for the Reallocation of Investigative Authority

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, formed the 'Police System Improvement Advisory Committee' on the 13th, shortly after his inauguration, and began preparing so-called police control measures. This move is interpreted as a full-scale effort to check the police, whose authority has increased following the passage of the so-called 'Prosecution Investigation Authority Complete Separation Act' (commonly known as 'Geomsu Wanbak'), which separates the prosecution's investigative and prosecutorial powers.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency on the 16th, Minister Lee recently formed the 'Police System Improvement Advisory Committee,' one of the subcommittees under the minister's policy advisory committee, and held the first meeting on the 13th. The advisory committee consists of 10 members, including six civilians such as professors and lawyers, one police officer, and three public officials. The chairpersons are jointly held by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and lawyer Hwang Jeong-geun, a former judge.

Attendees at the meeting included the Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Director of Planning and Coordination, the National Police Agency's Investigation Planning Coordinator, Professor Jeong Seung-yoon of Pusan National University, Professor Jeong Woong-seok of Seokyeong University, lawyer Hwang Jeong-geun, Professor Kang Wook of the Korean National Police University, former Professor Yoon Seok-dae of Hannam University, and Professor Jo So-young of Pusan National University. The discussion focused on the topic of 'Democratic Operation Measures for Police Investigations.'

The newly formed advisory committee is expected to meet biweekly, and the police are closely monitoring the direction and pace of the discussions. Since the National Police Agency is a subordinate agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the minister has the authority to recommend appointments for positions at the rank of superintendent general or higher, including the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency. However, the minister's control over public security affairs has been limited, with some functions delegated to the National Police Commission.

The advisory committee is expected to discuss various measures, including strengthening the authority of the National Police Commission and reducing the authority of the national police through the autonomous police system. Considering the policy direction of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the fact that the advisory committee members have been figures advocating the need to readjust investigative powers, there is a possibility of significant changes.

An official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated, "There are various discussions, but nothing has been concretely decided yet," adding, "The direction of the discussions will need to be observed over time."

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