The National Police Agency headquarters in Seoul. Prosecutors requested supplementary police investigations in 65,913 cases during the first half of 2026. Photo by Asia Today
July 19 (Asia Today) -- South Korean prosecutors sent more than 65,000 cases back to police for additional investigation in the first half of this year, highlighting growing concerns about police workloads and weakening cooperation between the two agencies.
Prosecutors issued supplementary investigation requests in 65,913 cases from January through June, according to National Police Agency data obtained by Rep. Kim Jae-seop of the opposition People Power Party.
The number reached 110,623 last year, the highest annual figure since the statistics were first compiled. That represented a 27.2% increase from 86,954 cases in 2021, the first year the system was implemented.
A supplementary investigation request allows prosecutors to require police to conduct additional inquiries when they determine that a transferred case lacks sufficient evidence or contains problems in the application of the law.
