What whistleblower protections is the Korean National Police Agency planning to strengthen?

The agency will let whistleblowing reports be filed through legal representatives so reporters can better protect their identities. It is also working with other agencies on ways to help cover whistleblowers' legal costs.

Why is the Korean National Police Agency increasing rewards for whistleblowing now?

The agency said the move is meant to encourage more whistleblowing and reinforce internal oversight as police take sole investigative authority after the legal revision. The maximum payout will be raised to 100 million won from 27 million won.

What legal change led to the police reform and whistleblower measures?

The National Assembly passed a revised Criminal Procedure Act last month that stripped prosecutors of direct investigative authority and left that power solely with the police. The article says the change has also raised concerns that exclusive police authority could weaken investigation quality.

Police to strengthen whistleblower protections following investigative authority reform

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Summary

The Korean National Police Agency said Monday it will strengthen whistleblower protections and reward reporting of legal violations after a legal revision made the police the sole investigative authority. The measures were approved by the Korean National Police Commission, and the agency plans to revise disciplinary enforcement rules. It will allow reports through legal representatives and raise the maximum reward to 100 million won.

Key Facts

The Korean National Police Commission reviewed and approved the whistleblower measures earlier in the day.
The agency plans to revise its enforcement rules on disciplinary actions for police officers accordingly.
Reports will be allowed through legal representatives to protect whistleblowers' identities.
The maximum whistleblower reward will rise from 27 million won to 100 million won.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 10, 2026 8:42 pm KST

The Korean National Police Agency in Seodaemun District, Seoul / Yonhap

The Korean National Police Agency said Monday it will strengthen measures to encourage whistleblowing and protect those who report legal violations as part of its efforts to reform the organization following a recent legal revision that grants investigative authority solely with the police.

The agency said the goal is to reinforce internal oversight and give officers greater confidence to report wrongdoing.

The measures were reviewed and approved at the Korean National Police Commission earlier in the day. The agency said it plans to revise its enforcement rules on disciplinary actions for police officers accordingly.

To protect whistleblowers' identities, the agency will allow reports to be filed through legal representatives. It is also working with other agencies to develop ways to help cover whistleblowers' legal costs.

On financial rewards, the maximum payout will be raised to 100 million won ($70,497) from the current 27 million won, in an effort to encourage more whistleblowing.

The move came after the National Assembly passed a revised Criminal Procedure Act last month, stripping prosecutors of their authority to conduct direct investigations and leaving investigative authority solely with the police.

The revision has also raised concerns that giving the police exclusive investigative authority could undermine the overall quality of investigations.

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