The Korean National Police Agency decided to assign all audit, inspection, and human rights officers in charge at city and provincial police agencies to people who are not from the corresponding region.
On Aug. 12, the Korean National Police Agency held the second meeting of the task force (TF) on follow-up measures to the revised Criminal Procedure Act, led by Acting Commissioner General Yu Jae-seong as Head of Team, and made this decision.
The police plan to implement a recusal system for all audit, inspection, and human rights officers in line with personnel moves in the second half of the year. As the so-called "hometown police controversy" has flared, the move is seen as aimed at boosting fairness and credibility.
In preparation for an expected increase in investigative workload with the enforcement of the revised Criminal Procedure Act, the investigative departments will also add more personnel. Earlier, at a meeting, it was decided to reduce police mobile units and reinforce investigative staff by 881, and the aim now is to expand further. The scale of the increase will be decided after consultations with related ministries.
At the meeting, participants also discussed operating dedicated units at the Korean National Police Agency and at city and provincial police agencies to check and manage compliance with prosecutors' case requests. The dedicated units are expected to launch in line with second-half personnel moves after consultations with related ministries. Separately, the police also plan to prepare measures to strengthen management of cases requested by prosecutors under the revised Criminal Procedure Act.