Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, "Fraud Information Analysis Center Needed to Combat Fraud Crimes"

Plan to Actively Support Legislative Process
Actively Considering Establishment of Security Investigation Headquarters

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency / Provided by the National Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, reiterated the need for a Fraud Information Analysis Center that analyzes fraud crimes at the government-wide level in response to the increasing number of fraud crimes.

At a regular press briefing on the 17th, Commissioner Yoon said, "A bill to establish a Fraud Information Analysis Center within the National Police Agency has been submitted to the National Assembly, and related discussions are ongoing." The Basic Act on Fraud Prevention, primarily proposed by Kim Yong-pan of the People Power Party in August, aims to establish a Fraud Information Analysis Center under the National Police Agency. It includes provisions such as undercover investigations with concealed identities, registration and disclosure of personal information related to specific fraud crimes like organized crime fraud.

Commissioner Yoon stated, "Based on the National Assembly bill and foreign operational cases, we plan to establish detailed plans regarding the organization and roles and actively support the legislative process." The foreign case he referred to is the UK's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). Under the City of London Police, it analyzes fraud crimes occurring throughout the UK and plays roles in investigation, prevention, classification, and dissemination.

Earlier, on the 7th during the National Assembly audit, Commissioner Yoon also emphasized the need for a Fraud Information Analysis Center. At that time, he said, "Fraud crimes can destroy not only individuals but also families, and temporary crackdowns by the police have limitations," adding, "We will actively promote the establishment of a 'Fraud Information Analysis Center' by benchmarking the UK case."

Commissioner Yoon also reiterated the necessity of establishing a 'Security Investigation Headquarters,' which he emphasized during the recent National Assembly audit. He said, "In the past, we attempted to establish a Security Investigation Headquarters, but after review by related agencies, the Security Bureau was organized under the National Investigation Headquarters as the Security Investigation Division," adding, "We will comprehensively review the establishment of a Security Investigation Headquarters considering the special nature of security investigations." This is interpreted as an effort to strengthen the police's security investigation capabilities, as they will be newly granted counterintelligence investigation authority from the National Intelligence Service in 2024.

Meanwhile, regarding criticisms that police investigations into the Eastar Jet recruitment corruption case have been insufficient, Commissioner Yoon explained, "We are additionally verifying the facts of the raised suspicions through the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Investigation Review Office and others." This case has recently become a political issue, with People Power Party lawmakers publicly raising suspicions of 'employment solicitation' involving opposition figures during the National Assembly audit and questioning whether the police investigation was inadequate.

Commissioner Yoon also revealed that 18 significant cases were identified during a comprehensive survey of stalking crimes triggered by the Sindang Station station worker murder case. He elaborated, "As a result of the interim review of the comprehensive survey, there were cases where suspects released due to dismissal of arrest warrants were re-evaluated for risk and detained, and cases where investigations were resumed after recognizing additional stalking offenses by suspects despite closure without prosecution requests. These were handled meticulously and strictly."

Regarding the recent resignation of all members of the National Police Agency Human Rights Committee with three months left in their terms, Commissioner Yoon said, "There were limitations due to opposition from related agencies to strengthening the status and role of the National Police Agency Human Rights Committee," adding, "I regret the early resignation three months before the term ended and will strive to appoint and commission new members promptly."

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