The Korean National Police Agency said on the 8th it will implement a guideline known as the "recusal system," which bans direct investigations into cases involving family members. The scope of family cases includes lineal ascendants and descendants, and siblings.
Investigators must file for recusal from cases involving family members of police officers working at the same station or employees who worked there within the past three years, and then, under the direction of the city or provincial Korean National Police Agency, transfer the case to another station within the same court jurisdiction.
As exceptions, investigations may proceed without transfer when continuous investigation is needed to protect victims or when a suspect is urgently or flagrantly arrested and then detained. However, under approval from the city or provincial Korean National Police Agency commissioner, the appropriateness of handling the case must be reviewed monthly.
The Korean National Police Agency initially limited the scope of family cases to spouses and lineal ascendants and descendants. However, after the Police Investigation Reform Committee suggested at its fourth meeting on the 8th of last month that the scope should be expanded to siblings to improve the system's effectiveness, the Korean National Police Agency accepted the recommendation and broadened the coverage.