[Exclusive] Police Supplementary Investigations Surge to 100,000 Cases Annually, Lasting Up to 15 Months... Investigations Drag On

Supplementary Investigations by Prosecutors Increase from 80,000 to Over 100,000 Cases in One Year
Prolonged Police Investigations into Complaints and Accusations of Public Safety Crimes

Since the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police in 2021, the number of supplementary investigation requests made by the prosecution to the police has reached 100,000 cases per year. Among these, there are cases where supplementary investigations have prolonged for up to 15 months, raising concerns that the police investigation system needs to be reorganized.

Police → Prosecution → Police: 'Investigation Delays'

After the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police, the prosecution can request supplementary investigations if they judge that the police investigation was insufficient or flawed.

According to the 'Status of Prosecution's Supplementary Investigation Requests' received by Rep. Jung Woo-taek of the People Power Party from the National Police Agency on the 3rd, the number of supplementary investigation requests made by the prosecution to the police last year totaled 103,185 cases, a 28% increase compared to 80,523 cases in 2021. This year, 23,342 supplementary investigation requests were made in the first quarter alone.

Insufficient initial police investigations have caused an increase in supplementary investigations, which in turn delays the overall case processing by the police. The police have been investigating Kim Mo (44, male), the CEO of a real estate corporation involved in nationwide jeonse fraud, for three years. Since the case was filed in 2020, the police have been conducting investigations after receiving supplementary investigation orders from the prosecution in May 2022 and February 2023. At that time, the prosecution requested supplementary investigation to additionally prove the landlord's intent to embezzle the deposit. Over the three years, the jurisdictional police station changed three times?from Seoul Gangseo Police Station to Seoul Violent Crime Investigation Unit, and then to Seoul Financial Crime Investigation Unit. The police explained that the investigation could not proceed swiftly due to the nationwide nature of the case and the coinciding Itaewon tragedy.

In another case, complainant Choi Mo filed a complaint with the police in October 2021 for fraud, but after two supplementary investigation orders, the investigation lasted 13 months. Choi said, "At that time, the police started supplementary investigations, but I was never informed exactly what was wrong or how the case would proceed afterward."

Rep. Jung stated, "The prosecution's supplementary investigation requests serve a positive function in correcting cases where suspects are falsely accused or investigations are insufficient," adding, "However, if supplementary investigations are prolonged, the damage falls on the public, so measures must be taken to ensure necessary investigations proceed swiftly."

However, some police officers say that the prosecution's supplementary investigation requests can be excessive. A senior police officer in Seoul said, "There are cases where supplementary investigations are requested for minor errors such as a single-digit number being incorrect or for physically impossible additional acquisition of mobile phone call records."

Up to 15 Months; Poor Management of Long-Term Cases

As supplementary investigation requests increase, processing times are also lengthening. According to the National Police Agency, as of last month, 7,195 cases with prosecution supplementary investigation requests have lasted more than six months. Among these, the longest case lasted 15 months.

Currently, for general cases, if 90 days pass, a red warning is displayed in the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS), and thereafter, every three months, an extension request must be submitted and approved by the head of the investigative department, ensuring strict management. However, this management system does not apply to cases where the prosecution has requested supplementary investigations.

The National Police Agency stated, "Starting at the end of this month, we will improve the system so that cases with prosecution supplementary investigation requests will also require submission of extension requests every three months and approval by the head of the investigative department, just like general cases."

In March, the National Police Agency conducted special audits targeting frontline police officers before their transfers, focusing on the 'Self-Responsibility Investigation System' and strengthening accountability in investigations. The audit results pointed out the need for measures against negligence in self-responsible cases before transfers and for efficient management plans for cases with prosecution supplementary investigation requests.

The National Investigation Headquarters is also preparing an 'Investigation Renewal' plan for improvement. The plan involves integrating and dividing cases according to their nature and increasing processing speed through specialization. It is known that options such as integrating criminal cases with women and youth cases, and economic cases with cyber cases, are being considered. A National Police Agency official said, "We are comprehensively reviewing plans to integrate overlapping functions and specialize by dividing departments," adding, "Since some parts require changes to presidential decrees to be implemented, if the enforcement decree is revised in the second half of this year, actual implementation could be possible around early next year."

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