Police Prepare Measures to Strengthen Right to Legal Counsel Assistance... "Guaranteeing Citizens' Rights"

On October 14, the police announced that they had prepared measures to strengthen the right to assistance from legal counsel in order to guarantee citizens' rights and enhance the credibility of investigations.

Attorneys can electronically submit documents such as the appointment of counsel and statements of opinion through the Criminal Justice Portal, and access various notification documents including arrest and detention notices, as well as investigation result notifications.

Metropolitan and provincial police agencies will regularly hold meetings with local bar associations to discuss difficulties encountered during investigations and devise improvement measures. There are also plans to expand free legal consultations by attorneys at the Investigation Civil Service Consultation Centers installed in police stations.

An official from the National Police Agency stated, "This is a measure that effectively guarantees the constitutional right to assistance from legal counsel," adding, "It is expected to have a significant impact not only on protecting citizens' rights but also on ensuring the fairness and credibility of police investigations."