A proposal has been made to bring in outsiders as the police chief and others to keep the "dinosaur police" in check.
The Democratic Party of Korea held a "policy forum on democratic control of the police and innovation in police investigations" at the National Assembly on the 31st. With the abolition of the Prosecution Service ahead, and a string of job-related misconduct cases arising during police investigations, the event was convened to discuss how to keep the "dinosaur police" in check.
Yu Seung-ik, a law professor at Myongji University, said in a presentation that "the current powerlessness of the National Police Commission, the leniency of internal police inspections, and the insular, pure-blooded appointment practices of the top command are the core reasons amplifying concerns over the abuse of police power and human rights violations."
He added that "it is urgent to reestablish governance to democratically control police power and greatly enhance the transparency of public safety administration."
There was also a proposal to open the post of the commissioner general, the head of the police organization, to outsiders. Another proposal would require a confirmation hearing for the appointment of the commissioner of the National Office of Investigation (NOI), who directs and supervises investigators nationwide.
Until now, it has been customary to appoint the commissioner general from among the seven national senior superintendents general, who are ranked below the commissioner general. The structure limits the post to internal police personnel. By contrast, the prosecutor general and the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) may be appointed from outside.
At the forum, participants cited adopting an open, external appointment system for the commissioner general and effectively opening the NOI commissioner post to outsiders as reform measures. Although the NOI commissioner position is nominally open to external appointments, not a single outsider has ever been chosen, and when Hong Seok-ki, the current NOI commissioner, was appointed, there was no public call for applications.
Lee Sang-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker who hosted the forum, on the 28th introduced as the lead sponsor a package of three bills to require the NOI commissioner to undergo a National Assembly confirmation hearing.
Meanwhile, acting Commissioner General Yu Jae-seong, who attended the forum, said, "Centering on the task force (TF) for follow-up measures to the revised Criminal Procedure Act, we are carefully addressing necessary tasks such as expanding personnel and budgets and refining systems so that the new Criminal Procedure Act framework can be put in place on the ground without a hitch."
Yu said, "Through a police investigation reform committee led by outside experts, we are continuing in-depth discussions on the overall investigation system," adding, "based on this, we plan to build a fair and accountable investigative framework that the public can trust."