With the implementation of the revised criminal procedure law in October, which abolishes prosecutors' investigative authority, labor inspectors will be empowered to independently assess and take responsibility for the entire investigation process in labor cases. The government plans to conduct an eight-week practical training program for new inspectors and make criminal law and investigation guidance training mandatory for current inspectors and managers.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 23rd that it will hold an 'Investigation Guidance Workshop' for heads of local offices nationwide on the 24th, where it will unveil the 'Labor Inspector Investigation Capability Enhancement Training Plan.'
The training plan will focus on three main areas: strengthening practical training for new inspectors before their assignment, enhancing the investigative expertise of current inspectors, and establishing a multi-layered investigation management system.
To start, the Ministry has created an eight-week 'Investigation School' as part of a 12-week training program for new inspectors. This program was first applied to 206 new inspectors who began their training in May, and they were deployed to the field after completing their training on July 27.
At the Investigation School, dedicated faculty will utilize 34 simulated cases developed from analyzing 3.16 million actual reported incidents. Trainees will handle the entire process from case reception to preliminary investigation, investigation, and conclusion, receiving individual evaluations and feedback weekly. The satisfaction rate for the first training course was 4.6 out of 5.
Newly assigned inspectors will receive one-on-one mentoring for 12 weeks to support their practical adaptation.
Training for current inspectors will be revamped to gradually teach criminal law knowledge, simulated investigation practices, and specialized investigative techniques. This shift aims to enhance practical skills tailored to labor cases, moving away from the previously general training that relied on external agencies like prosecutors and police.
Last month, the Ministry launched an online course on criminal law tailored to labor cases. All inspectors are required to complete the basic course, while managers and team leaders must complete the advanced course by next month.
A case study course based on actual investigation records will also be developed in collaboration with the Police University’s industry-academia cooperation group, focusing on investigation and evidence collection, legal review, and case assessment. A standard course will be piloted by the end of the year, with plans to expand it into specialized courses for major case types such as unfair labor practices and illegal dispatch. Training on specialized investigative techniques, including compulsory investigations, interviews, and digital forensics, will also be strengthened.
A multi-layered investigation management system will be established to review cases at various stages. Team leaders and managers will be responsible for reviewing case records, issuing supplementary instructions, reviewing referral opinions, and providing post-guidance. The heads of agencies will oversee the investigation guidance system in their jurisdictions and adjust discrepancies in departmental judgments.
For cases requiring legal advice, consultations with prosecutors will begin at the early stages of the investigation, and the coordination procedures for cases involving multiple investigative agencies will be standardized. Each local office will form a consultative body with prosecutors and police, prioritizing the placement of experienced investigators in dedicated departments such as the Serious Accident Investigation Division.
The Ministry plans to conduct a total of 12 small discussion-style workshops for all 890 managers before the revised law takes effect, starting with 49 agency heads on the 24th. These workshops will assess managers' guidance capabilities from setting investigation directions to reviewing evidence and maintaining prosecutions based on actual cases.
"For all labor inspectors to secure independent investigative integrity, the entire organization must be prepared," said Kwon Chang-jun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. "We will support the enhancement of managerial investigative leadership and practical expertise through education and systems."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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