Critics question South Korea police unit after sensitive case transfer

Dec. 22 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's National Investigation Headquarters, a police unit sometimes described as a Korean equivalent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, is facing criticism over whether it can conduct independent, accountable probes involving powerful figures after transferring a politically sensitive case to another agency.

The National Police Agency recently moved a case involving allegations of a biased investigation linked to the Unification Church and Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, according to the report.

The controversy stems from claims that the special prosecutor learned in August of allegations that current and former lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party received money and valuables from the Unification Church but did not pursue the matter, the report said. The special prosecutor said the allegations were not investigated because they were "not directly related to Mrs. Kim Keon-hee," it added.

Critics said the decision appeared selective because special prosecutor teams have previously examined suspicions beyond those explicitly listed as targets under the special prosecutor law, the report said.

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The case has been seen as politically sensitive because of direct and indirect links to figures connected to the administration and the ruling party, the report said.

At a briefing Monday, National Police Agency Commissioner Park Sung-joo said the transfer was made in line with jurisdiction and legal procedure. He said prosecutors fall within the investigative scope of the anti-corruption system under relevant law, but critics pointed to a lack of clear provisions specifically addressing special prosecutors, the report said.

The National Investigation Headquarters was launched in 2021 with a pledge to conduct responsible investigations free from political influence and separate from prosecutors, the report said. Police officials described it at the time as a control tower that would remain steady even in sensitive cases involving power-related crimes, raising expectations that it would apply consistent standards, it added.

Kim Sang-gyun, a professor of police studies at Baekseok University, said differences in investigative approach based on a subject's status can directly affect public trust.

"Only when the National Investigation Headquarters applies the same standard regardless of status will it become a truly responsible investigative body," he said.

- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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