Minseok Kim: "Now Is the Time for Police Reform... Greater Authority Must Be Matched by Responsibility"

"Reform of Investigative Powers Must Lead to Police Reform"

Minseok Kim, the Democratic Party candidate for party leader, stated on the 4th, "As authority grows, so too must responsibility and democratic oversight," and declared, "It is time for police reform."

On his social media that day, Kim wrote, "The prosecution reform separating investigative and indictment powers has passed a major hurdle. However, public anxiety remains."

He said, "When a police officer’s family is involved in a case, another colleague investigates it, leading to repeated controversies over evidence destruction and inadequate investigations. Victims find it difficult to know the progress of their own cases, and citizens cannot even know whether their personal information is being accessed."

He continued, "This is why investigative power reform must be followed by police reform," and added, "During my tenure as Prime Minister at the end of last year, I instructed the preparation of a comprehensive police reform plan."

Kim stated, "The police have internal audit systems, victim notification systems, and mechanisms for recusal based on personal connections." He emphasized, "The issue is implementation. I will ensure the completion of these three key police reforms."

First, he said, "Cases involving police officers themselves or their families will be handled by other police stations or investigative agencies. Those responsible for evidence destruction, case cover-ups, or leaking investigative information will be held accountable." He also pledged, "I will fundamentally prevent the concealment of cases, strengthen external review and accountability, and guarantee victims the right to know the progress of their own cases."

Additionally, he emphasized, "I will prevent unauthorized access to citizens’ information" and added, "Checks on communications and financial information will only be conducted when absolutely necessary, under strict procedures, and in principle, individuals will be notified once investigations are concluded."

Kim concluded, "I will pursue police reform that is tougher on crime, swifter in protecting victims, and more accountable to the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.