Lee Demands Tougher Police Accountability as Investigative Powers Expand

President Lee Jae Myung called for tougher sanctions against police officers who conceal evidence, fabricate findings or manipulate cases as South Korea prepares to transfer broader investigative authority to the police.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Lee said misconduct involving case handling should be met with discipline severe enough to remove officers from the force, alongside stronger criminal penalties where appropriate. He argued that minor disciplinary measures would not match the gravity of wrongdoing once police have greater power to make final investigative decisions.

The warning comes ahead of a major restructuring of the criminal justice system scheduled to take effect Friday. Prosecutors will lose their investigative powers and focus on indictments, while police will handle most ordinary and livelihood-related criminal investigations. A newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency will be responsible for major offenses.

Lee said the expanded authority had intensified public concern about whether police could mishandle investigations or fail to protect victims. He cited recent allegations in which police officers or relatives of officers were accused of destroying evidence, covering up misconduct or improperly managing cases.

One case involved Jang Yoon-gi, who was charged with sex offenses and the murder of a high school student in Gwangju. Two officers were indicted on allegations that they leaked investigative information to Jang’s father, himself a serving police officer, and helped conceal or destroy evidence.

Lee also referred to a case on Jeju Island in which an officer falsely reported contacting a missing woman and closed the case without confirming her location. The woman was later found dead. A review found that the same officer had improperly closed 27 missing-person cases.

Beyond tougher punishment, Lee emphasized the need to strengthen the police’s internal inspection function and increase its independence. He said external oversight of investigations would become more difficult in practice under the revised system, making internal accountability more important.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said a police reform committee was being organized under the Prime Minister’s Office and was expected to launch around late September or early October. The committee is intended to address concerns arising from the redistribution of investigative and prosecutorial powers.