Police Introduce Conflict-of-Interest Rule to Prevent Family-Linked Cases From Being Investigated by the Same Station

South Korean police will begin enforcing a rule on the 9th that prevents stations from investigating cases involving the close family members of their own officers. The measure targets concerns about police protecting their colleagues and is intended to ensure fair investigations.

The rule covers an officer’s spouse, direct ascendants and descendants, and siblings. An investigator must immediately request recusal after learning that a complainant, accused person or other party is a family member of an officer currently working at the same station or who worked there within the previous three years.

The case must then be transferred to another police station within the same court jurisdiction under the direction of the relevant metropolitan or provincial police chief.

The National Police Agency initially planned to cover spouses and direct relatives after convening a task force on follow-up measures to the revised Criminal Procedure Act. A police investigation reform committee that included outside members argued that the rule would be more effective if it also covered siblings. Police accepted that recommendation and expanded the scope.