The 'Police Investigation Reform Committee for Restoring Public Trust' held its first meeting today after its official launch with the significant mission of restoring public confidence in police investigations, designating the 'Jang Yun-gi case' as its first agenda item and declaring a direct confrontation with controversies over police negligent investigations.

At the first meeting held on July 27, 2026, at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, the reform committee changed its name from the existing 'Task Force for Enhancing Police Investigation Credibility' while strongly expressing its commitment to independence and citizen-oriented reform. The committee plans to comprehensively address the investigation process and issues in the 'Jang Yun-gi case' at its next meeting. Kim Nam-joon, an attorney at Law Firm Citizen, serves as chair, and Acting Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung also attended to demonstrate the police organization's commitment to cooperating with the committee's activities.

The reform committee declared enhanced independence as an operating principle, with committee members directly proposing agenda items and additionally appointing victim representative members to reflect the victim perspective. The committee plans to hold regular weekly meetings to continuously listen to opinions from field police officers and victim advocacy groups. Starting with the 'Jang Yun-gi case,' the committee will broadly gather opinions from victims of civil crime damage including sexual violence, jeonse fraud, and voice phishing to promote substantive institutional improvements.

[Photo=Yonhapnews]

Chair Kim Nam-joon emphasized regarding concerns about 'self-reform,' that "since the police hold authority, the possibility of corruption and misconduct can be greater, making checks and oversight important." This demonstrates the committee's strong determination to diagnose structural problems within the police organization from an independent external perspective and bring about substantive institutional improvements.

The 'Police Investigation Reform Committee for Restoring Public Trust' will continue its activities until the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency in October and plans to prepare recommendations. The committee aims to secure momentum for reform through internal committee members excluding the secretary and expansion of external members, and is targeting substantive change by examining the implementation of recommendations in the future.

Starting with the Jang Yun-gi case and extending to civil crimes, attention is focused on how substantive and effective recommendations will emerge through broad discussions. Continued attention to future developments is necessary to dispel concerns about the police organization's 'self-reform,' strengthen accountability commensurate with its authority, and bring about substantive changes that can restore public trust.