Minister Yun Ho-jung of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "When judicial control over the police and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (Jungsuchung) is wrongly carried out, there must be democratic control over investigations," adding, "I believe, as a principle, that there should be mechanisms to apply brakes through personnel and general (operational) command authority."
Minister Yun, appearing at the full session of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee on the 17th, responded to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yang Bu-nam's point that "there is a need to design a rational system so that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety does not privately abuse its personnel and supervisory authority (operational command authority) over the police and Jungsuchung," by saying, "In addition to judicial control over investigative agencies, democratic control must also be properly carried out."
Minister Yun said, "Concerns about abuse of personnel and command authority will be sufficiently discussed by the (prosecution reform) task force," adding, "I think the relevant procedures will be put in place."
Minister Yun also said he would secure new personnel to strengthen the investigative capacity of Jungsuchung, which will be newly established following the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office. In response to Democratic Party lawmaker Chae Hyun-il's point that "when the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was launched in the past, it raised expectations but also had limitations," he said, "First, we will have to transfer much of the investigative capacity that the prosecution currently has." He added, "If that is not enough, we plan to expand new personnel to develop the capacity to respond to increasingly diversified crime methods and the like."
Regarding the adjustment of investigative scope among the Korean National Police Agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and Jungsuchung, he said, "It seems necessary to clarify the scope of investigations legally," adding, "When investigative domains collide, we will prepare solutions, but I think it is necessary to establish a relationship that advances cooperation rather than competition."
To Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-sik's point that "even after the National Intelligence Service's counterintelligence duties were transferred to the police last year, the related personnel, equipment, and budget have not yet moved to the police," Minister Yun answered, "After the Government Organization Act passes, we will ensure it is reflected in personnel allocations."