The Korean National Police Agency launched a dedicated reform task force on Wednesday to overhaul its organization before a new criminal justice system takes effect next month. The task force will gather public and frontline officer feedback, hold hearings nationwide through November, and unveil its progress in mid-December. The revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect on Oct. 2 and will transfer direct investigative authority from prosecutors to police. Public distrust has also risen after police mishandling allegations in Jeju and Gwangju.
Kim Jong-chul, third from left, the acting head of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), and other police officials unveil the signboard of the police reform task force at the KNPA headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) on Wednesday launched a dedicated body to spearhead sweeping organizational reforms ahead of next month's implementation of a new criminal justice system that will transfer investigative authority from prosecutors to police.
The police reform task force will seek to overhaul the police's organizational culture and operational systems based on feedback from the public and frontline officers, the KNPA said.
