The police argued that in relation to the so-called "prosecutorial reform" being discussed by the government and the ruling party, the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority should be abolished and only the "supplementary investigation request authority" should remain. The intention is that only the police should be able to conduct supplementary investigations.
Park Seong-joo, head of the Korean National Police Agency, said at a regular press briefing on the 1st, "(the 'prosecutorial reform') is about separating investigation and prosecution, so the prosecution's direct supplementary investigation should be unified into the supplementary investigation request authority."
He added, "If the supplementary investigation request authority does not function practically, I believe there should be the authority to request changes in police officers or disciplinary measures for the prosecution office being discussed for establishment after the abolition of the prosecution."
Earlier, Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated that even if the functions of investigation and prosecution of the prosecution are separated, care should be taken in abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation function. In response, there has been a negative reaction from the ruling party. The police's position is similar to that of the ruling party, rather than the Ministry of Justice.
Head Park expressed concern over fears that police powers would be enlarged after the "prosecutorial reform," stating, "The key point of the prosecutorial reform is the separation of investigation and prosecution," and asserted, "I believe it has no direct relation to police enlargement."
The police also stated that they are subject to "10-fold control of investigation" by prosecutors. It is said that they effectively receive control from the prosecution when requesting warrants and are subject to external control in 10 processes such as investigation, transfer, and non-transfer. The National Assembly, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the media, and defense attorneys were also mentioned.
Head Park noted, "When discussions on constitutional amendments take place in the future, improving the situation where the prosecution monopolizes the warrant request authority is also an old position of the Korean National Police Agency."