▲ National Private Investigate Association(NPIA)/ President Jaekyeong Choi

As the post-pandemic digital age is in full swing, awareness of intellectual asset protection and crisis management, such as privacy and patent management, is increasing. The need for detectives is shared by the public, organizations, and governments, and there are news of policy preparations related to this. In January 2021, the police decided to allow private companies to issue private licenses with the name of a detective, after private companies were allowed to operate under the name of a detective. The National Police Agency announced that it will be able to issue private qualifications with the title ‘Detective’ at the end of 2020 after on-site guidance and inspection of private qualification issuing organizations registered in relation to the detective business. This paved the way for the opening of detective agencies, and the number of institutions issuing private qualifications related to the detective business is increasing. President Jaekyeong Choi established the National Private Investigate Association(NPIA) under Hongik Group and serves as the representative of Hongik Detective Corporation, Hongik News, Hongik Platform, and ABCSTO Group.

Choi said “The drug-related incidents are a very serious problem for society as a whole. They come from all walks of life, have a broad impact on society, and require a concerted effort to address.” On the other side of the spectrum, there is a relay campaign of “no exits” by CEOs to stop the spread. The association has been assigned a “civilian monitoring group” by the Korean Youth Drug Prevention and Combat Alliance to monitor drugs, and detectives comprised of former National Intelligence Service employees, police officers, prosecutors, and lawyers are taking the lead in protecting young people exposed to drugs by proactively monitoring and receiving tips. Choi said “Unlike OECD countries, in Korea, the legal recognition and institutionalization of the detective industry is insufficient, and we aim to improve this.” 

Introducing data analysis and business cooperation

On August 23 last year, the first Korea Public Detective Association academic seminar was held at the National Assembly Hall. The seminar was hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yong-pan and Yangjihoe, and organized by the National Private Investigate Association(NPIA) and the Korea Association of Anti Money Laundering. The theme of the seminar was ‘The Digital Age and the Future of Detectives.’ Lawmaker Kim said “In the digital age, the role of a detective has changed a lot. They no longer just track and observe, but also dig into cybercrime, collect online information, and analyze digital evidence. Using the latest technologies like digital forensics and data analytics, they can solve problems more accurately and quickly, and it’s really important to have the skills to deal with new types of crime, especially cybercrime.”

Job creation and on-the-job training by experts continue to drive interest

The National Private Investigate Association(NPIA) runs a private investigator specialist course to train detectives who can operate in the digital age, and has already run the course 4th time. The 5th course has already been booked more than 70 seats and the 6th course therefore is open to apply. The association has recruited some of the country’s top AI, eavesdropping, and forensics experts as its core members. Last April, the association signed a business agreement with Yangjihoe, a social organization for former members of the National Intelligence Service. Students will acquire artificial intelligence, drone, and forensics technologies, and will receive additional training on ChatGPT in particular as well as demonstrations of their fellows. Choi said “Digital technology has opened up a new horizon for the detective industry, and this experience will have a significant impact in setting the future direction of the association.”

Cultivating detectives with ethics, trust, and professionalism

The association supports victims of digital crime and telephone financial fraud, promotes public interest campaigns and citizen watchdogs, and strives to provide psychological and legal support to victims. Additionally, the association’s ‘CEO VIP Forensic Service’ provides cutting-edge security and recovery support for the smartphones of corporate CEOs. Choi said “The goal is to cultivate highly professional detectives suited to the digital age and to be recognized domestically and internationally for the reliability and expertise of the detective industry. Through this, we create social value and contribute to the enforcement of the law. I want to emphasize that detective work is not just a job, but an important role that carries social obligations and responsibilities. It is important to respect the experience and knowledge of the older generation and create an environment where the younger generation can gain new opportunities through detectives, national intelligence agencies, and related organizations.”