This undated file photo shows an advertising banner hangs outside the Korea Private Investigation Association’s office in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The issuance of private investigator licenses has been officially permitted in South Korea following a recent decision to allow individuals to register private detective businesses.
The National Policy Agency announced on Monday that it permitted a group of registered private institutions to issue private detective licenses late last year after on-the-spot inspection and guidance.
As a result of the on-the-spot inspection conducted during the September to October period of last year, the police found that a total of 12 private institutions are engaged in the issuance of 14 different kinds of private investigator licenses.
In August last year, the government enacted the Official Detective Law aimed at creating new jobs as well as preventing damages caused by illegal detective activities.
As part of this effort, the government also announced a plan to establish a state-led management and supervision system for the operation of private investigators.
“Despite high demand for social safety, including searches for missing persons, the response is limited due to a shortage of police manpower,” said Kim Won-jung, a law professor at Cheongju University.
“A private detective licensing system should be launched immediately, and the police should ensure systematic management and supervision of such businesses.”
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
The advantages of hiring a private investigator are: For background checks: to determine the facts of the individual’s profile, several agencies employ a private investigator to detect the truth. By holding a check on the individual, a private investigator detects the truth and further finds a person’s past.