142 people released after investigation in 2024-2025... “Professional capabilities must be strengthened”
One out of three Coast Guard investigators has less than three years of investigative experience... The exodus of professional personnel continues
Quick Look
- Among the Coast Guard's investigative personnel, 36.1% have less than 3 years of experience, and 142 people were released from investigation between 2024 and 2025.
- Lim Mi-ae called for the preparation of effective measures to strengthen the expertise of Coast Guard investigators and control investigative authority.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
After the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative rights, the Coast Guard's investigative authority was expanded. The Coast Guard has been operating an investigation system since 2019 to secure investigative expertise.
(Incheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Jeong-hwan = While the Coast Guard's investigative authority increased after the prosecutor's supplementary investigative authority was abolished, one out of three Coast Guard investigative officers was found to have less than three years of investigative experience.
According to data received from the Coast Guard by the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Mi-ae, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee on the 4th, among the 783 police officers working in the investigation department this year, 283 (36.1%) have less than three years of investigative experience.
Among these, 102 (13.0%) police officers were found to have less than one year of investigative experience.
The proportion of Coast Guard investigative personnel with less than 3 years of investigative experience rose from 45.2% in 2021 to 65.6% in 2022, then steadily decreased to 43.4% in 2023, 42.8% in 2024, and 39.8% in 2025.
There is also a phenomenon where investigative professionals are leaving.
In order to strengthen investigative capabilities, the Coast Guard has been granting 'investigation clearance' to police officers with expertise since 2019, and only 142 people were released from the investigation clearance in 2024-2025.
According to the Coast Guard's investigative police personnel management rules, a police officer who has passed three years after being granted an investigation clearance can apply for release at his/her request. If you are disciplined for receiving money or entertainment related to your job or for serious human rights violations, the investigation progress must be lifted, and if you are disciplined for other misconduct, it can also be lifted.
Among those released after investigation in 2024-2025, 72 (50.7%), more than half, were found to be based on their own wishes. There were three police officers discharged for important disciplinary action such as receiving bribes, and nine police officers were discharged for other misconduct.
Representative Lim Mi-ae said, "Coast Guard investigators are required to have a high level of expertise not only to investigate general crimes but also to identify the causes of maritime accidents and maritime crimes. We must come up with an effective plan to increase the professional capabilities of investigators and control their expanded investigative authority."
Open Questions
- What is the specific position transfer status of personnel who have been investigated and released?
- What are the specific training program plans to strengthen investigative expertise?
