[Exclusive] Police Establish Economic Crime Investigation Units at Regional Police Agencies Nationwide

Improving Economic Crime Detection Investigations and Investigation Command Efficiency
Considering Integration of Criminal and Women & Youth Investigation Departments

The National Police Agency will establish Economic Crime Investigation Units in metropolitan and provincial police agencies nationwide. This measure aims to clarify the command of investigations into organized and sophisticated economic crimes and to eradicate large-scale economic crimes through direct recognition investigations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a report by Asia Economy on the 10th, the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters is considering establishing Economic Crime Investigation Units in local police agencies nationwide or separating and expanding existing economic crime investigation departments. The National Police Agency plans to announce the final version of the "National Investigation Renewal" plan next month and conduct pilot operations for some functions in the second half of the year.

According to this plan, when an economic case occurs, the head of the Economic Crime Investigation Unit will take the first command at the responsible police station, followed by the second command from the head of each metropolitan or provincial police agency, and finally, the command of the National Investigation Headquarters chief. Through this, the National Investigation Headquarters intends to ultimately command investigations of cases at frontline stations while expanding recognition investigations of major economic cases.

Additionally, organizational restructuring tailored to the circumstances of each metropolitan and provincial police agency is also under consideration. For example, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will establish an Economic Crime Investigation Unit, whereas the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency may separate its existing Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit into distinct anti-corruption and economic crime investigation units. This is due to the need to strengthen specialized investigative capabilities in economic fields such as taxation, corporate, and financial crimes at metropolitan and provincial police agencies.

A National Police Agency official stated, "We will strengthen direct investigations by metropolitan and provincial police agencies into economic cases at frontline police stations and expand economic recognition investigations."

The National Police Agency anticipates a continued increase in industrial-related economic crimes. The number of cases handled by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency rose by 70.6%, from 1,192 cases in 2021 to 2,034 cases in 2022. Economic cases handled by the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Units of the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency and the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency increased by approximately 150% and 200%, respectively, during the same period.

With the police undertaking integrated investigations, investigations into economic crimes affecting people's livelihoods are expected to proceed more efficiently. In the case of the recent surge in jeonse fraud, there have been calls for integrated investigations as a single suspect has caused damage across jurisdictions of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon metropolitan and provincial police agencies.

Meanwhile, along with establishing the Economic Crime Investigation Units, the National Police Agency will set up dedicated departments for voice phishing crimes in local police agencies nationwide and unify the investigation functions for voice phishing crimes, which are currently dispersed across investigation, criminal, and cyber departments, into the criminal departments. This decision considers that many arrests occur during the face-to-face extortion process where victims are coerced into handing over money.

In addition, the National Police Agency is discussing integrating the criminal and women & youth investigation divisions of the National Investigation Headquarters. Since its introduction in 2005, various investigative teams have operated by function, but excessive segmentation has led to inefficient operations and interdepartmental conflicts. However, concerns have been raised that this integration might reduce expertise, especially amid rising youth suicides and stalking crimes.

Reactions within the police regarding the direction of the investigation renewal are mixed.

A police officer working in a metropolitan and provincial police agency's wide-area investigation unit said, "Cases that have been held for a long time at frontline stations tend to experience delays after being transferred. In economic crimes, the longer the delay, the greater the potential damage to victims. Therefore, establishing an investigation unit to respond quickly could have a positive effect in reducing crime," expressing a positive view.

A police officer working at a frontline station in Seoul said, "Even offenses like fare evasion, which used to be handled by the investigation division, have now been transferred to the criminal division. If tasks such as voice phishing are transferred due to the lack of presence of criminal investigators, there could be neglect in responding to serious crimes, which is a significant burden," he said.

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