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Since the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police, the center of criminal case response has shifted from the prosecution stage to the police investigation stage, rapidly reshaping the legal market.

In the past, response to prosecutorial investigations and trials was at the core of criminal cases. Recently, however, there is a clear trend toward developing response strategies from the earliest stages of police investigations, including securing non-referral decisions, responding to search and seizure, handling digital forensics, and preparing initial statements.

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Perceptions of former police officer-attorneys are also changing. Above all, a strong understanding of police investigation procedures is now being viewed positively.

Attorney Chon Hyeong Hwan, a former police officer, emphasized, “Even attorneys who formerly served as prosecutors or judges may not be familiar with the police investigation stage.”

He added, “Former police officers have a clear advantage in that they understand the flow and procedures of investigations.”

Those in the legal community expect that the importance of responding at the police investigation stage will continue to grow even after the launch of the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency in October. As the investigative structure becomes more complex, demand for professionals with police investigation experience is expected to continue for the time being.

Source: Aju Business Daily, Reporter Won Eun-mi, “[Police Officers’ Value Rises in the Legal Market] Responding to Non-Referral Decisions and Search and Seizure… Law Firm Strategies Have Changed,” May 25, 2026.
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