Labor ministry unveils inspector training plan before October legal change

The labor ministry said Sunday it will overhaul training for labor inspectors before prosecutors lose their authority to direct special judicial police investigations on Oct. 2, placing greater responsibility for criminal cases on inspectors.

Labor inspectors handle 19 laws and 1,022 provisions as special judicial police officers who frequently refer cases to prosecutors.

For recruits, the ministry added an eight-week investigation school to a 12-week program before placement. The first group of 206 entrants completed it before deployment on July 27, working through 34 simulated cases developed after an analysis of 3.16 million reported incidents. Trainees handled procedures from receiving a complaint through preliminary inquiry, investigation and case closure, with weekly individual assessments and feedback from dedicated instructors.

Serving inspectors will shift from general instruction reliant on outside agencies to labor-case work, with a standard case-study course to be piloted by year-end. The ministry opened an online criminal-law course tailored to labor cases in July, requiring basic coursework for all inspectors and advanced coursework for department and team heads by September. It is also developing case-study exercises with the Korea National Police University's industry-academic cooperation group and plans expanded training in compulsory investigations, investigative interviews and digital forensics.

Managers will be recast as investigation leaders, reviewing case records, ordering further work and assessing referrals. The ministry plans 12 discussion-based workshops for all 890 managers before the law takes effect, beginning with 49 agency heads, and will seek early consultation with prosecutors on cases requiring legal advice.

"For all labor inspectors to be capable of independently completing investigations, the entire organization must be ready," Kwon Chang-jun, vice minister of employment and labor, said. "We will support stronger investigative leadership among managers and expertise among frontline staff through training and systems."

From Dec. 8, 17 cities and provinces will take responsibility for workplace inspections and the exercise of judicial police powers.