Police are launching a nationwide review to prevent potential collusion between officers and parties to cases, prompted by the case of Jang Yoon-gi, a suspect in the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju. The plan calls for forming a "Reform Task Force to Enhance Trust in Police Investigations," centered on outside experts, to identify all cases in which an officer's family member is a party to a case and to re-examine the fairness of investigations.
The scope of the review will include not only officers currently on duty but also those who worked at the relevant police station within the past three years.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 10th, Acting Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung, immediately after returning to the country that morning, held a video conference with police leadership nationwide and ordered these "measures to enhance trust in investigations."
Police decided to conduct a full review of all investigations and pre-charge inquiries currently underway at police stations nationwide to check for family relationships between parties to cases and officers.
The subjects of the review span all parties to cases, including not only suspects and victims but also complainants, accusers, petitioners, and appellants. Police plan to check all cases in which these individuals are family members—such as a spouse or lineal ascendant or descendant—of an officer working at the police station investigating the case.
In particular, the review is not limited to officers currently working at the relevant police station. It will also check past work history, but in consideration of the review's potentially excessive scope, the range has been set to include officers who worked at the relevant police station within the past three years, according to reports.
Police plan to also examine whether the investigation command line—including team leaders, section chiefs, and station chiefs—as well as the officers handling the investigation were aware of such facts. Once a relevant case is identified, it is to be reported immediately to higher agencies such as metropolitan and provincial police agencies, and the police station chief is to check compliance with procedures and the appropriateness of the investigation before reporting again to the higher agency.
If misconduct such as leaking investigation information, soliciting favors in cases, or inappropriate interference in investigations is confirmed during the review, the Korean National Police Agency plans to consider stringent measures including severe disciplinary action and personnel disadvantages.
