Jeon Hyun-hee, a member of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill on September 9 aimed at expanding the scope of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's complaint investigations from just police to include all investigative and audit agencies, such as the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Prosecutor's Office.
Her office stated, "In light of growing public concerns regarding the police, particularly following recent incidents like the 'Jang Yoon-gi case' and the 'Jeju missing person case,' it is essential to establish effective external oversight mechanisms to protect citizens from potential illegal activities during investigations." This prompted the introduction of the amendment to the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
Jeon emphasized that the core of the amendment is to enhance the Ombudsman function of the commission, stating, "With the upcoming implementation of the Criminal Procedure Act, which assigns police as the primary investigators, and the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Prosecutor's Office, there is a pressing need for external oversight mechanisms."
The proposed amendment clarifies the legal framework for handling complaints and expands the scope to include all investigative bodies, such as the Prosecutor's Office, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, and the Audit Office.
Additionally, it establishes a legal basis for the commission to request criminal justice information from relevant agencies to facilitate prompt and effective investigation of complaints.
Jeon stated, "To restore public trust in the police amid a series of misconduct incidents, internal oversight alone is insufficient. As the powers of investigative agencies expand, it is crucial to have external protective measures in place."
She added, "If the Ombudsman function of the commission is strengthened through this amendment, it will serve as an external oversight mechanism that operates at the level of public expectations. We will continue to establish institutional safeguards to prevent violations of citizens' rights."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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