Lee Junseok Pledges to Introduce Licensed Private Investigators to Prevent Illegal Activities by Unqualified Businesses

Legitimate Information Investigation Needs to Be Institutionalized
Retired Police Officers with Over 10 Years of Investigation Experience Partially Exempt from Exam
Introduction of Community Safety Managers and Victim Support Investigators

On May 13, Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, pledged to introduce a system of "licensed private investigators" utilizing the expertise of retired police officers. The aim is to address the worsening public safety issues at the frontlines and to prevent illegal activities by unqualified businesses.

On the morning of the same day, Lee promised to implement a licensed private investigator system through a national qualification exam. He stated that this would prevent the infringement of citizens' personal information and bring legitimate information investigation demands into the institutional framework.

According to Lee's campaign committee, those with more than 10 years of experience investigating criminal cases in the police or similar agencies would be exempt from certain parts of the exam, allowing the expertise of veteran investigators to be actively utilized.

Yonhap News

In addition to licensed private investigators, Lee also proposed new positions for retired police officers, such as Community Safety Managers and Victim Support Investigators, to strengthen on-site public safety.

Community Safety Managers, appointed by local governments, would enhance community-oriented policing services by conducting neighborhood patrols and guidance activities. Victim Support Investigators would be specialized personnel focused on victim protection and aftercare, providing tailored one-on-one support systems.

It is expected that if the expertise of retired police officers is actively utilized, it will be linked to the public safety security network, leading to the eradication of illegal information gathering, strengthening of region-specific public safety, and closing gaps in victim protection, thereby improving the overall level of public safety in society.

The campaign's policy headquarters emphasized, "We will support veteran professionals such as licensed private investigators to fill any gaps in public safety by leveraging the experience and know-how they have accumulated in the field."