Democratic Party Pushes for Full Documentation of Police Investigations in Response to Abolition of Supplementary Investigation Authority

Kim Seung-won, the floor leader of the Democratic Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, proposed a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act on the 23rd that mandates the logging of the entire investigation process—from initiation to conclusion—on the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS).

The bill expands the rights of suspects and their counsel to access investigation records and mandates written notification of procedures to address human rights violations occurring during the early stages of an investigation.

The legislation also includes provisions to suspend the statute of limitations for crimes if investigators or prosecutors attempt to manipulate the law to conceal charges or tamper with records. Additionally, it imposes a duty on heads of investigative agencies to manage records to prevent unauthorized alteration or deletion and allows for disciplinary action in cases of non-compliance.