Prosecutor Kim Seong-moon Appointed Head of Investigation... Judge Choi Seok-gyu Concurrently Serving as Head of Prosecution
Corruption Investigation Office: "Will Begin Reviewing Cases Nearing Statute of Limitations on the 19th"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC), which has appointed new prosecutors, has completed the division of duties and will begin full-scale case reviews.
On the 18th, HCIC announced that it appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutors Kim Seongmun and Choi Seokgyu as heads of the investigation departments. Kim, a former prosecutor, will be in charge of investigations, while Choi, a former judge, will serve as both head of the investigation department and chief of the prosecution department.
HCIC is composed of a total of four departments: Investigation Departments 1 to 3 and the Prosecution Department. Since the full quota was not met during the recent prosecutor appointments, a temporary dual-role system has been established.
HCIC stated that which of the Investigation Departments 1 to 3 each deputy chief prosecutor will lead will be disclosed after the organizational structure is finalized. HCIC has also completed the department assignments for the remaining 11 prosecutors.
According to this organizational arrangement, HCIC plans to assign the 888 complaints and accusations received since its launch (as of the 16th) to individual prosecutors on the 19th. HCIC said, "We will promptly review and handle cases nearing the statute of limitations first."
Meanwhile, HCIC announced on the 16th that a significant portion of the organizational setup had been completed. After the prosecutor appointment ceremony on the 16th, HCIC listened to each prosecutor's appointment impressions and discussed the future direction of the agency for over two hours.
HCIC stated, "We will achieve separation of investigation and prosecution through the organizational structure and realize cooperation between the police and prosecutors within one agency," adding, "We will become a people-friendly investigative agency that respects the rule of law and the principles of due process."
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