With the revised Criminal Procedure Act, centered on abolishing prosecutors' investigative authority, set to take effect, police formed a special unit to push follow-up measures.
The Korean National Police Agency said on the 5th it is operating a "task force for follow-up measures on the revised Criminal Procedure Act." The operating period runs until Oct. 2, the effective date of the revised Criminal Procedure Act.
Head of Team is Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jae-seong of the Korean National Police Agency. The acting Director General for Planning and Coordination, the Investigation Planning and Coordination Officer, the General Affairs and Human Resources Planning Officer, the Inspector General, and the Spokesperson will also participate.
The task force will hold a meeting once a week to review and discuss the "measures to strengthen the fairness of police investigations" announced at the Cabinet meeting the previous day, along with stronger discipline and punishment for police corruption, reinforcement of investigative personnel and budgets, and plans to revise follow-up regulations. It will also address how to implement tasks that the Police Investigation Reform Committee will recommend going forward.
When the revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect, all prosecutorial investigative powers, including the authority to request supplementary investigations, will be eliminated. Police will be responsible for most investigations, including incidents they detect or recognize as well as complaint and accusation cases.
Prosecutors may request supplementary investigations from police. Police must complete the supplementary investigation within one month and notify the results. If necessary, they may extend the investigation period by up to one month.