Launch of Electronic Warrant Execution System Enables Swift Issuance of Financial and Communication Warrants

The execution method for financial and communication warrants, which previously relied on in-person visits or emails, has transitioned to a fully online system, promising a significant change in criminal justice procedures.

Starting at 8 a.m. on September 28, the Ministry of Justice, along with the prosecution, police, maritime police, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, launched the 'Electronic Warrant Execution System.'

According to the Ministry of Justice, this system electronically executes warrants, requests, and permits issued by courts in electronic document form, in accordance with the Electronic Document Act for Criminal Procedures. When investigative agencies send electronic warrants through the 'Electronic Warrant Execution Portal,' financial institutions and telecom companies can verify the warrants after authentication and submit related response documents immediately.

The newly established 'Warrant Execution Portal' systematically manages the history of electronic warrant verification and document submissions, ensuring that all data is encrypted for secure transmission. This is expected to significantly enhance the transparency and security of the warrant execution process.

Prior to the launch, the five agencies signed agreements with the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute and 20 domestic banks to build the system. With the completion of computer linkages with the three major mobile carriers and key value-added service providers, the automation of financial transaction information and communication data requests will also be realized. As a result, the efficiency of warrant execution by investigative agencies and the convenience of inter-agency operations are expected to increase significantly.

A Ministry of Justice official stated, "The system launched today is a high-quality expansion of the electronic criminal justice process that began with the launch of the next-generation Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) in September 2024, reaching the warrant execution stage. This will enhance the speed of operations between investigative agencies and relevant private institutions, as well as elevate the overall trust in the judicial process."