South Korea to create police reform committee — Korea Herald
South Korea will establish a police reform committee and a working group under the office of Prime Minister Han Seong-suk. As Korea Herald reports, the prime minister said these bodies should help build an accountable and fair policing system amid prosecutorial reform.
New police powers
From October 2, the police will be responsible for all investigations. The role of the prosecution will be limited to bringing charges, and it will not be able to conduct investigations independently.
The reform has raised concerns that transferring all investigations to the police could have negative consequences. The publication notes that prosecutors previously compensated for shortcomings in police work during investigations.
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Government tasks
At a cabinet meeting at the government complex in the central administrative city of Sejong, Han said that under the new system, the police’s role and responsibility are of paramount importance.
She said the government must restore public trust in the police and turn it into a service for the people. The prime minister also asked the ministries of justice and interior to ensure the new system is introduced as quickly as possible so that there are no gaps in protecting citizens’ rights and interests.
Concerns about police work intensified after a series of incidents, including reports that a police officer closed two missing-person cases without confirming the individuals’ safety. Both were later found dead.
