Police Investigation Deliberation Committee: "Advisory Committee's Recommendations Are Political Power's Control Over Police"

On the 21st, the Advisory Committee on Police System Improvement of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced recommendations for police control measures, including the establishment of a police bureau within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Police Investigation Review Committee of the National Police Agency criticized the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s advisory committee on police system improvement’s recommendation for police control on the 22nd, stating it "means political power controlling the police." The Police Investigation Review Committee is a body that provides consultation and recommendations in the process of establishing and deciding major investigation policies and reviews the results of police case closures.

On this day, the committee issued an opinion on the recommendation announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s advisory committee the previous day, stating, "It violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers that guarantees the universal human rights protection of the people." The committee further pointed out that "it subordinates the police to state power" and "also violates the principle of legal reservation, which requires all state actions to be based on law."

The committee said, "Among the recommendations, strengthening the role of the Police Investigation Review Committee is natural and rather a belated regret (mansijitan, 晩時之嘆)," adding, "The control measure through the establishment of a Police Bureau seriously undermines the political neutrality and independence of the police." It also emphasized, "The relationship between the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency is completely different in nature from that between the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office," and "Unless the Ministry of the Interior and Safety becomes an agency solely responsible for the administrative affairs of the National Police Agency, it cannot subordinate the National Police Agency."

The committee also stated, "History reminds us that the police have fought political power to guarantee their independence and political neutrality," and argued, "Police investigations, represented by the National Investigation Headquarters, must be independent from external political influence and internal unjust interference." Furthermore, it said, "We hope to seek measures to further strengthen the independence and neutrality of the police, such as realizing the National Police Commission in accordance with the spirit of the Police Act so that police investigations can be directed solely toward the people."