Seoul: A new dedicated body will be launched this week to push for sweeping reforms of the police, the police announced Sunday. This move comes amid growing calls for reform following a legal revision that will transfer prosecutors' investigative authority to the police.

According to Yonhap News Agency, calls for police reform have intensified following controversy over a missing person case on the southern island of Jeju. In this case, a police officer was found to have prematurely closed multiple missing person cases without confirming the safety of the individuals reported missing.

"This is to keep our promise to fundamentally reform the police," the agency stated in a press notice, adding that further details will be announced later. This notice was issued after Kim Jong-chul, the new acting head of the Korean National Police Agency, was briefed by senior officials on key pending issues over the weekend.

Kim emphasized the importance of police officers being well-informed about the revised investigation procedures. He also instructed officials to ensure that all police officers receive sufficient training this month to acquaint themselves with the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which will strip the prosecution of its investigative authority.

President Lee Jae Myung has underscored the necessity for police reform, stating that the police will soon wield more power than any other government agency.