Applications for police investigation review continue to increase... Expected to surpass last year's level

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-ju = Applications for investigative review filed by those involved in the case, such as the complainant and accuser, to determine the appropriateness of the police investigation are expected to increase this year as well, surpassing last year's level.

According to data received from the National Police Agency by the office of Rep. Park Joo-min of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 30th, there were 5,675 requests for investigation and review received from January to August of this year.

If the figures for the remaining four months are combined, it is expected to exceed the total number of applications last year (6,223).

The number of applications by year is increasing every year: 2,443 in 2022, 3,148 in 2023, 5,367 in 2024, and 6,223 in 2025.

Investigation deliberation is a system in which those involved in a case raise objections to the investigation procedures or results, claiming that they are unfair or illegal.

If the request for investigation review is deemed appropriate, a police investigation review committee is held in which external experts such as lawyers and legal scholars participate.

The number of cases in which the committee judged that there were inadequacies in the investigation and ordered measures such as 'supplementation/reinvestigation', 'expedited processing', 'reassignment of transfer to departments/government agencies', and 'local correction/education' amounted to 970 cases from January to August this year, an increase of approximately 10.6% compared to 877 cases last year.

As applications increase, there are cases where the committee is unable to process all of the cases received within the same year.

The committee processed all 2,443 cases received in 2022 and 3,148 cases received in 2023 by citing or dismissing them.

However, only 4,397 out of 5,367 cases received in 2024 and 6,100 out of 6,223 cases last year were processed.

From January to August this year, only 4,935 out of 5,675 cases were processed.

According to the rules regarding the review of police investigation cases, the investigation review committee must complete the investigation within three months from the date of receiving the application for investigation review.

If the application is not completed within the period, extension approval must be obtained every three months, and the applicant must be notified of the investigation progress within seven days from the date three months have passed since submission.

The police explained that cases that cannot be investigated within three months are being carried forward.

However, while the number of applications increases every year, some point out that the capacity of the investigation review committee is insufficient.

Lee Chang-hyeon, a professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School, said, "It appears that the number of applications has increased due to complaints from officials regarding police investigations," and added, "As the role of the police expands, the number of applications is expected to increase further."

Professor Lee said, “The fact that the number of orders such as supplementation and reinvestigation is small compared to the number of applications means that the role of the deliberation committee is not being properly performed.” He added, “Compared to the number of applications, the committee’s function appears to have virtually reached a state of ‘paralysis.’”