[Exclusive] Police Agency Launches On-Site Inspections of Investigative Departments Nationwide to Root Out Misconduct

National Office of Investigation Joins Headquarters Audit Team
On-site Audits at Provincial Agencies and Police Stations Through Early June
Triggered by Allegations of Case Cover-up at Seoul Gangnam Police Station

The police have launched on-site inspections targeting investigation departments nationwide. Not only the headquarters, which had previously issued a misconduct alert, but also the National Office of Investigation are planning to thoroughly review the overall investigative procedures. This move comes as improper practices such as requests for favors and negligent investigations continue to surface, despite the ongoing task of ensuring a stable transition of investigative authority ahead of the planned abolition of the prosecution office.

According to a summary of coverage by The Asia Business Daily on May 5, the National Police Agency and the National Office of Investigation have begun a special audit of investigative departments at police agencies and stations across the country. A joint audit team consisting of 22 personnel, including staff from the headquarters audit office and members of the National Office of Investigation, has been formed. Preliminary inspections began on April 29, and on-site audits will be conducted from this month until June 5. The on-site audit involves directly checking investigation records and procedures at the scene.

Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

A police official explained, “This is an unscheduled, ad hoc audit rather than a routine inspection,” adding, “We plan to focus on identifying cases of investigative misconduct, inadequate investigations, and the status of supervisory management.” If non-compliance with procedures or serious breaches of duty are discovered, disciplinary action will be taken. On April 20, National Office of Investigation Commissioner Park Sungjoo held a virtual nationwide meeting of investigation leaders to discuss measures to strengthen checks on vulnerabilities within investigative departments.

Following a series of investigative misconduct and negligence cases, the National Police Agency issued its first “general misconduct alert” of the year in mid-April. Now, with the National Office of Investigation directly participating in the audit, this is being seen as a strong measure to restore trust in police investigations and discipline. In January of this year, the National Office of Investigation also implemented a continuous monitoring system, deploying 79 investigation experts to the field to prevent cases from being neglected or intentionally delayed.

With both the headquarters and the National Office of Investigation participating in the joint audit, there are expectations that this will be a high-intensity inspection combining administrative oversight with investigative review. The intention is to go beyond merely checking discipline and to scrutinize the propriety of investigative procedures and case handling. The audit was triggered by incidents such as the suspected cover-up of a scam case involving a famous influencer—allegedly involving a headquarters executive and the head of the investigation team at Seoul Gangnam Police Station—the influencer’s husband being arrested on stock manipulation charges, and the inadequate response to a stalking and murder case handled by Namyangju Nambu Police Station and Guri Police Station in March this year.

Meanwhile, the joint audit team plans to follow strict procedures to ensure that the audit does not undermine the investigative willingness of field officers, including providing ample opportunities for explanation regarding any matters identified or sanctioned during the process. If a case qualifies for immunity under the proactive administration policy, officers can apply for exemption or request a re-examination in accordance with the Public Audit Act.

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