National Police Agency to Increase Dedicated Personnel for Voice Phishing... Establishing Industrial Accident Investigation Team

[Financial News] The police are increasing personnel for investigating phone financial fraud (voice phishing) to strengthen their response. President Lee Jaemyung has ordered the establishment of a dedicated team for investigating industrial accidents.
Seongju Park, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, announced at a regular press conference held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 4th, that "the increase in dedicated personnel for voice phishing has been somewhat confirmed."
The police see the need for increased personnel to analyze voice phishing crimes and prevent victimization. The specific number of additional personnel is under discussion. Diplomatic efforts, such as attending international security cooperation meetings, will also be strengthened to quickly extradite suspects from Cambodia, where voice phishing organizations are known to be active.
The National Police Agency will also establish an organization dedicated to commanding investigations into industrial accidents. A unit will be created under the Criminal Division to exclusively command investigations into serious accidents occurring nationwide. A dedicated investigation team will also be established in the criminal mobile units of provincial police agencies. Previously, President Lee ordered the review of forming a dedicated team for investigating industrial accident fatalities.
Plans to strengthen the cooperation system with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which is responsible for the Serious Accident Punishment Act, are also under review. Chief Park stated, "The investigation cooperation system with the Ministry of Employment and Labor needs to be more close-knit than it is now."
Regarding recent relational crimes such as dating murders, the separation of victims will be strengthened from the initial stage. Regardless of the victim's intention to prosecute, measures such as attaching electronic anklets, detention, and arrest will be actively implemented for offenders with a risk of reoffending. High-risk cases will be protected by establishing a protection system in cooperation with related agencies. The police will hold a meeting with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 6th regarding the attachment of electronic devices. A representative from the National Investigation Headquarters said, "When applying for electronic device attachment, 80% are approved by the prosecution and 30-40% by the court. The police have no choice but to apply with a burden," adding, "There have been meetings before, but additional discussions will be held."
Meanwhile, the police have decided to dispatch 12 personnel to a joint investigation team with the prosecution to uncover the truth of the Itaewon disaster. A police representative of the rank of superintendent started working from the 31st of last month and is discussing joint investigation plans. Eleven working-level officials with experience in safety accident cases are being selected from the rank of inspector or below.
Regarding the criticism that the police have decided to strengthen the investigation publicity rules to improve sensational reporting of heinous crimes, Chief Park stated, "There has been no review of revising the publicity rules," adding, "While it is impossible to prevent working-level officials from contacting the media, there was a discussion that specific issues should be addressed through official channels."
unsaid@fnnews.com Myungyeon Kang, Reporter