National Police Agency Human Rights Commission, "'Institutional Reform' Recommended... Roles and Status Must Be Strengthened"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Police Agency Human Rights Committee announced on the 16th that it recommended the Police Commissioner to establish measures to strengthen the committee's role and status, citing increased risks of human rights violations as police powers expand and strengthen due to the adjustment of investigative authority and the implementation of the autonomous police system. Since the committee's advisory nature has so far limited its enforceability, it emphasized the need to establish a system that grants binding recommendations or opinions and manages the post-implementation status.

The committee explained that the recommendation includes changing its name to the Police Human Rights Committee and granting substantive authority to make recommendations or express opinions. It also proposed elevating the police human rights department, currently under the Inspector General's Office, to a Human Rights Office directly under the Police Commissioner, with subordinate positions such as Human Rights Policy Officer, Human Rights Promotion Officer, and Human Rights Protection Officer to perform secretariat functions, investigations, and other duties respectively. Furthermore, to strengthen the committee's practical status, it recommended amending the Police Act to establish regulations for the Police Human Rights Committee and creating a relief body (Human Rights Protection Officer) to investigate internal and external human rights violations and provide remedies.

The Police Agency stated regarding the committee's recommendations, "We will gather opinions from related bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission and the National Police Commission, which may have concerns about overlapping or conflicting authorities, and consult with related agencies including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Government Legislation to review whether to proceed."

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