The Democratic Party of Korea is considering reforms to the oversight of special judicial police officers (specials), particularly about removing the authority of prosecutors to direct these officers. Recently, investigations revealed that over 150 cases in Gyeongbuk had expired beyond their statute of limitations due to negligence in managing the special judicial police's activities, raising significant concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement in the region.

From February 27 to March 7, 2023, the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office conducted inspections of special judicial police activities in cities such as Yeongdeok, Ulchin, and Yeongyang. They found that cases involving violations of the Automobile Accident Compensation Guarantee Act were among those that had surpassed their legal deadlines for prosecution, primarily due to a lack of a statute of limitations management system and inadequate documentation of case records. This oversight raised alarms about systemic failures within the special judicial police framework that could lead to further legal mishaps.

Critics argue that without proper oversight from prosecutors, the quality and timeliness of investigations will likely worsen. Professors from major law schools have pointed out that the current structure, which allows ordinary civil servants to carry out complex criminal procedures, may lead to severe delays in case handling and increased errors in investigations. This could result in more significant legal repercussions and human rights violations that are difficult to correct. Overall, the planned reforms are deemed risky, and experts stress the urgency of establishing robust management and training systems for the special judicial police to avert potential declines in legal integrity and public trust.