(Design=Kim Shin-kyu/SBS)

Sherlock Holmes that comes to mind when a detective comes to mind, Sherlock Holmes has become synonymous with detectives since it first appeared in'The Scarlet Study' published in 1887 by British novelist Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes, who lives in Room B, 221 Baker Street, London, UK, is often commissioned by the British Police Department to visit crime scenes. To the readers, a detective like Holmes is almost the same as the police, and it looks like a police partner.

'Detective' business has also been legalized in Korea. In addition, interest in private licenses related to detectives is increasing.

Is there a'Korean version of detective' who will solve my case like Sherlock Holmes in a novel or drama? In [Pick Q&A], we will look at what a legalized'Detective Office' can do and its limitations.


Q. Isn't there already a similar agency?

A. The big difference is that it is'legalized'.

It has been illegal to use the name detective. The'Act on the Use and Protection of Credit Information', abbreviated as the Credit Information Act, has banned the use of detective names. So, I have been working under the name of'private investigator'. There are also private investigator license holders at the Heung-New Office.

Then, in February, the'prohibition of detective business' provision was removed, making the detective office legally possible. From the 5th, the detective office business went into full force. It is expected that the previously operated voice offices and errand centers will be renamed to'Detective Offices'.

Q. If something unfair happens, can I hire a detective to solve the case?

A. Although the detective business has been legalized, there are still many limitations to expecting a big success like the detective in the movie. This is because the current law in Korea does not allow detectives to collect evidence in civil or criminal cases.

The National Police Agency said, "Generally, the activities of collecting evidence in civil and criminal cases, which are regarded as detectives, and identifying the whereabouts of hidden illegal actors are still limited."

In addition, he cautioned when requesting a case, saying, "You have to consider whether or not detective activities are illegal." If you ask a detective to investigate illegal content, the client may also be punished as a teacher offender.


Q. When I watch a drama or movie, I entrusted the spouse's cheating or finding a runaway family to the agency. Can I leave it to the detective office in the future?

A. If you request the collection of evidence on an investigation or trial case, there is a high possibility of violation of the Lawyers Act, and verification of the whereabouts of an evacuated tort or a runaway adult may violate the Personal Information Protection Act, so care should be taken when entrusting it to a detective.

For example, if you request a detective to collect data to prove the counterparty's deception in a fraud case, to identify the cause of the accident such as CCTV check in a traffic accident case, or to collect data related to the spouse's cheating in a divorce case, you violate the Lawyers Act. The police agency explained that it could be.

In addition, it may violate the Personal Information Protection Act if you seek to determine the hiding place of a latent debtor or perpetrator of a crime, or if you request confirmation of the residence of a runaway spouse or adult child.

Q. So what can you entrust to the detective?

A. △Representative collection of public information such as a certified copy of real estate registration △Confirmation of the truth of the facts entered in resumes and contracts based on the consent of the target or counterpart of the transaction It's all possible after that.

What has been made possible by the revision of the law is the task of'checking the location of runaway children or youth and missing persons.' This is because, in the case of collecting and using personal information for the benefit of life, body, or property without the consent of the subject, it is a business permitted under the Personal Information Protection Act.


Q. Even if the law is revised, isn't there not much that detective offices can do?

A. The government is planning to introduce a'certified detective' system in order to create new jobs and eliminate the harmful effects of negative private investigation activities. If a related corporation is established, the scope of work may be expanded in the future.

Q. How do I become a detective?

A. In the absence of an accredited detective system, it is said that private certification is not a prerequisite for applying for a detective office, and special qualification requirements are not yet required.

According to the statistics of the Korea Special Skills Education Foundation, 547 people acquired the PIA civil investigator certificate, a private detective certificate in the first half of this year. It is known that more than 70% were former and current police officers.

Only the'registered private qualification' is for detective-related certification. According to the National Police Agency, 27 places are registered as private investigation qualification issuing agencies, of which 4 are actually issuing'certificates'. The names of the qualifications are different for all four of the PIA private investigators, public opinion analysts, private investigators, and living information support investigators.

This is'News Pick'.