The task force for bolstering trust in police investigations tentatively decided to change its name to the Police Investigation Reform Committee for Restoring Public Trust and began full-fledged activities.
The committee held its first meeting on the 27th and agreed to change its name. It also decided that, in addition to agenda items presented by the Korean National Police Agency, Commissioners would directly propose agenda items. To strengthen protection for victims, it will appoint one additional external member representing victims.
The committee plans to hold a regular meeting once a week and listen to opinions from on-site police officers and victim groups. At the next meeting, after receiving an additional report from the police on issues in the Jang Yun-gi case, it will review whether the investigation was inadequate and examine structural problems within the police organization.
The committee will hear opinions from sexual violence victim groups and then, in turn, listen to the views of victims of everyday crimes such as jeonse fraud and voice phishing.
Chairperson Kim Nam-joon of the committee said after the meeting, "It should not remain at the level of a practical TF prepared within the Korean National Police Agency; we agreed to operate it in a way that makes broader recommendations and ensures those recommendations are carried out," adding, "As the (police's) authority has grown, we will set up mechanisms to check and monitor corruption and discuss ways to improve investigative efficiency."
The duration of the committee's activities has not yet been set. However, it is considering preparing recommendations by Oct. and examining ways to monitor implementation before the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency.