Police Tighten Rules on Leaking Investigation Details

South Korean police are strengthening regulations to prevent the leakage of investigation details, whether among officers or to the public. Effective October, an enhanced 'inquiry ban' system will be implemented, formalizing what was previously an internal guideline. This aims to curb the unauthorized disclosure of case information, which became a concern following instances like the 'Jang Yoon-gi case' earlier this year.

The updated policy will integrate the inquiry ban into the National Police Agency's official code of conduct for public officials. This will provide a formal basis for disciplinary action against officers who inquire about cases they are not involved in, without a legitimate professional reason. Investigators receiving such inquiries are now required to report them to their precinct's audit and human rights officer, with failure to report also subject to disciplinary measures.

New disciplinary standards are being established, categorizing violations based on the role of the officer involved. This includes distinct penalties for officers who inquire about cases, provide crucial investigation details, or leak general case information. The scope of the inquiry ban is also being broadened beyond internal police personnel to encompass external individuals.

This expansion means that inquiries from parties such as lawyers or legal firm managers who are not officially representing a client in a case, and are seeking to gather information on its progress, will be restricted. This measure is particularly aimed at addressing concerns about information leaks, especially given the increasing number of lawyers with former police backgrounds.

While the inquiry ban cannot be directly applied to external individuals through police regulations, the authorities plan to pursue punitive measures through other channels. For instance, inquiries from lawyers not involved in a case will be reported to the Korean Bar Association. For legal firm managers, the police will assess whether their actions constitute improper solicitation under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The enhanced system, following on-site guidance in September, is intended to bolster the fairness and accountability of police investigations ahead of the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which aims to fully separate investigation and prosecution.