Police reform task force to launch this week, led by senior superintendent

South Korea’s National Police Agency plans to launch a dedicated police reform task force this week, promising a structure designed to carry out what it called fundamental change within the force.

The agency said the task force will be headed by a senior superintendent. It will disclose the specific organization and direction of the new body when it formally begins work.

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We decided to launch the task force this week to keep our promise to carry out fundamental reform.

The decision followed a weekend review of the agency’s departments and bureaus by Acting Commissioner General Kim Jong-cheol. Kim received reports on major issues from Sunday through Monday, an unusual schedule intended to speed preparations for revised criminal procedure rules and police reform.

The review followed a national police leadership meeting on the need to ensure the amended Criminal Procedure Act takes effect without disruption. Kim said field officers must clearly understand the changed investigative procedures and apply them in practice. He ordered the agency to share the relevant details with all employees, provide sufficient training in September, and work to keep strong personnel in investigative divisions.

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It is important that field employees clearly understand the changed investigation procedures and implement them in the field.