OSCE Partner for co-operation since 1994.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security is responsible for law enforcement functions.
Policing tasks fall into the competency of the Korean National Police Agency.
1. Functions and missions
2. Structure and organization
3. Education / Training
1. Functions and missions
The duties of the Korean National Police Agency comprise a number of tasks.
2. Structure and organization
The Korean National Police Agency consists of several subdivisions summarized by the organization chart in the Attachments section.
3. Education / Training
Education and training are provided to future police officers by the following institutions:
![]() |
Organization of the National Korean Police Agency [English] (32.51 Kb)
Organization of the National Korean Police Agency [English] (Format: ) http://polis-cp.osce.org/countries/view?item_id=62&attach_id=145 Organigram depicting internal organization of the National Korean Police Agency |
![]() |
1. General information
2. Prosecution
1. General information
The Ministry of Justice, which belongs to the executive branch, is responsible for judicial administrative matters, including the personal affairs of prosecutors, as well as correctional and rehabilitative administration.
Judicial power over criminal cases is exercised by the judicial branch consisting of three tiers of courts, which are the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the District Courts.
Each Prosecutor's Office is in charge of investigation and prosecution corresponding to each tier of courts.
2. Prosecution
Prosecutors have the authority to investigate criminal cases, in addition, take final responsibility for pertinent investigations.
The judicial police conducts investigations under the supervision of prosecutors.
The judicial police consist of general judicial police, dealing with criminal cases in general and special judicial police, in charge of cases specifically related to railway facilities, forest, fire fighting, marine, labour, etc.
When a crime occurs, the judicial police usually initiate the investigation. The cases are then transferred to the Prosecutors' Office where prosecutors continue with the investigation by questioning the suspect, examining the documents and evidence, and conducting additional investigation as necessary. Upon completion of the investigative procedure, they make a decision on whether to file for prosecution.
In the case of complex offences and white-collar crimes, such as official corruption, economic offences, narcotics offences, environmental offences, organized crime, tax evasion, and police misconduct, the prosecutors initiate the investigation ex officio.
Ministry of Public Administration and Security
Ministry of Public Administration and Security http://www.mopas.go.kr/gpms/ns/mogaha/user/nolayout/main/english/userEngMainDisplay.action
Official website of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, available in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English.
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/ENG/index.do
Official website of the Ministry of Justice, available in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English.
Korean National Police Agency
Korean National Police Agency http://www.police.go.kr/eng/index.jsp
Official website of the Korean National Police Agency, available in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English.
Korean National Police University
Korean National Police University http://www.police.ac.kr/eng/index.jsp
Official website of the Korean National Police University, available in Korean, Chinese and English.
Police Comprehensive Academy
Police Comprehensive Academy http://www.pca.go.kr/english/history.asp
Official website of the Police Comprehensive Academy, available in Korean and English
National Central Police Academy
National Central Police Academy http://www.ncpa.go.kr/english/eng_intro.htm
Official website of the National Central Police Academy, available in English and Korean
Last Updated: 21 May 2009