Nam Gu-jun, Head of the National Police Agency, "1,000 Personnel Assigned to the Integrated Investigation Team... Preferential Performance Evaluations for Sergeants and Below"

Investigation Expenses Increased by 4.7 Billion Won... Efforts to Simplify Tasks Underway
Mixed Reactions from Investigative Police and Detectives

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The police plan to significantly increase personnel to strengthen investigative capabilities. They also announced that they will expand the ranks eligible for preferential treatment in performance evaluations to ensure a clear reward system.

Nam Gujun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, stated in a post on the police internal bulletin board on the 17th, "We are consulting with relevant ministries to allocate an average of more than one investigator per team in the economic, cyber, and integrated investigation teams, totaling 1,000 investigative personnel." He added, "The allocated personnel will definitely be utilized in actual investigations to ensure a tangible effect on the field." Recently, administrative tasks such as document copying and statistics management have increased significantly, placing a heavy burden on investigative police officers.

Funds essential for on-site investigations have also been increased. Nam said, "This year's investigation expenses amount to 61.9 billion KRW, an increase of 4.7 billion KRW compared to the previous year," adding, "This is an increase of 7.6 billion KRW compared to the 2022 supplementary budget."

The preferential treatment ratio in performance evaluations, previously applied only to the economic team, will be expanded to integrated investigation teams, including cyber investigations. The ranks eligible for preferential treatment will also be expanded from sergeant and below to corporal and below.

Nam also stated that the investigative organization will be reorganized through the expansion of integrated investigation teams. He said, "In 2023, integrated investigation teams will be piloted in six provincial police agencies including Busan, Gwangju, Ulsan, Sejong, Gangwon, and Chungnam, as well as three police stations in Seoul: Hyehwa, Namdaemun, and Seongbuk." He added, "We will continue efforts to establish a new investigative system that meets the public's expectations." Furthermore, he mentioned that preliminary investigators will be able to build expertise and grow within investigative departments from their initial appointments. In connection with the expansion of the Investigation Training Institute, scheduled for completion in 2026, measures will be taken to allow supervisors and commanders to systematically complete more training.

Nam also announced plans to simplify work processes through systems such as automatic personal information anonymization, verification of public officials, and establishing the scope of data provision from the National Health Insurance Service.

Finally, Nam stated, "The National Investigation Headquarters is now in its third year and entering a full-fledged growth phase," adding, "It is time to demonstrate the capabilities befitting a responsible investigative agency." He emphasized, "Let us all strive tirelessly for investigations that the public can trust and rely on."

Regarding the post, reactions from investigative police officers and detectives were contrasting. Investigative police mainly expressed positive responses such as "I hope the improvement in treatment is implemented quickly" and "Thank you for your efforts in difficult circumstances," whereas detectives voiced dissatisfaction with comments like "In the end, only the crying child is comforted while others are ignored" and "Why is preferential treatment in performance evaluations given only to the integrated investigation teams?"