National Investigation Headquarters Chief: "Police Expansion? Controlled by 10 Layers... Unrelated to Prosecutorial Reform"

[Financial News] The police have drawn a line regarding concerns about police power expansion related to the prosecutorial reform being discussed in the National Assembly. While stating that police investigations are subject to 10 layers of control, they emphasized their active participation in further discussions.
Seongju Park, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency, said at a regular press conference held at the National Police Agency on the 1st, "I believe that prosecutorial reform, which focuses on separating investigation and prosecution, is not directly related to police expansion."
According to Chief Park, police investigations undergo 10 layers of control procedures. The police explained that these include the prosecutor's warrant request rights, sending case records or requesting corrective measures in case of investigation rights abuse, guaranteeing the prosecutor's priority investigation rights in competitive cases, supplementary investigation requests after transfer, the prosecutor's exclusive prosecution rights, the prosecutor's review and re-investigation request in case of non-transfer, transfer request rights, and objections from parties involved in the case.
Chief Park emphasized, "In addition, external and internal checks and balances, such as the National Assembly, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, other institutions, the media, and lawyers, are continuously functioning."
He also expressed support for the abolition of supplementary investigation rights in the prosecutorial reform plan. Chief Park said, "Under the grand premise of separating investigation and prosecution, direct supplementary investigation is part of the investigation domain. It is right to unify it under the supplementary investigation request rights," adding, "If the prosecution requires supplementary investigation for prosecution and it does not work, the responsible police should naturally be subject to replacement or disciplinary request rights."
He continued, "Supplementary investigation requests and re-investigation requests are control mechanisms by prosecutors over the police under the Criminal Procedure Act," adding, "During the legislative process, we will officially express our opinion in the National Assembly on whether modifications are necessary."
Regarding the prosecutor's exclusive warrant request rights, he reaffirmed a fundamental stance. Chief Park said, "The part where the prosecutor's authority is specified in the Constitution needs improvement, which is the consistent position of the police," adding, "We will express our opinion when constitutional amendment discussions proceed."
Regarding the industrial accident dedicated investigation team launched by the police, seven personnel from the Ministry of Employment and Labor have been dispatched to the police to strengthen joint investigations. Chief Park said, "We will cooperate substantively with the Ministry of Employment and Labor in investigations and divide roles to conduct thorough investigations."
unsaid@fnnews.com Myungyeon Kang, Reporter