'Investigative Oversight Model': National Police Investigation Review Committee Holds First Annual Meeting

The Investigation Review Committee, which provides oversight of police investigations, convened a nationwide meeting for the first time.

The Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation said it held the annual meeting of the National Police Investigation Review Committee at the agency's Oullim Madang on the afternoon of November 13. The committee is a body in which external members, including private-sector experts, review the appropriateness of police investigations. Around 70 people attended the meeting, including committee chairs and members, as well as investigation review division chiefs from provincial and metropolitan police agencies.

National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Reporter Kim Hyunmin.

The meeting was the first nationwide annual event since the committee system was introduced in 2021. Police said it was organized to share the results of the committee's operations to date and discuss ways to improve the review system going forward.

Kim Jaebong, chair of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's committee, emphasized the committee's role as an investigative oversight model in which external experts and police jointly review the investigation process and results. He proposed legislation to establish the committee and the creation of specialized subcommittees for fields such as finance and medicine. Park Noseop, chair of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency's committee, introduced the lead reviewer system used in complex cases: a committee member with expertise in the relevant field serves as the lead reviewer and examines the issues in advance.

Kim Seontaek, chair of the National Office of Investigation's committee, said, "It is meaningful that the nationwide committees have created an opportunity to share their experiences and achievements at an annual meeting." He added, "I hope this meeting will help promote exchange and cooperation among the committees and lead to improvements in the relevant system so that review findings are fully reflected in the field of investigations."

Hong Seokgi, head of the National Office of Investigation, said, "We will actively support the committee so that its independent judgment by external civilian members is respected and it can faithfully fulfill its role in providing meaningful oversight of police investigations."

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