The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (Gong-su-cheo) Holds Joint Academic Conference on 2nd Anniversary... Discussing Development Directions

Co-hosted by the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice Policy and Three Academic Societies

Poster for the Joint Academic Conference on Future-Oriented Development Plans for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.
Image provided by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) will hold a joint academic conference to commemorate its 2nd anniversary since its launch.

On the 22nd, HCIA announced that it will hold a joint academic conference on December 2nd together with the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice, the Korean Society of Criminal Law, the Korean Society of Criminal Policy, and the Korean Society of Comparative Criminal Law to discuss future-oriented development plans for HCIA.

The academic conference, titled "Future-oriented Development Plans for HCIA as a Human Rights-friendly Investigative Agency," will be held from 1 p.m. on December 2nd at the Melon Hall on the 5th floor of Seoul Spotime in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It will be divided into two sessions: ▲Measures for the smooth operation of HCIA under current laws and systems (Session 1) ▲Amendment plans for the HCIA Act for future-oriented changes (Session 2), with presentations and discussions for each session.

In Session 1, moderated by Professor Jeong Han-jung of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Professor Lee Yoon-je of Myongji University’s Department of Law and Professor Yoon Dong-ho of Kookmin University’s Department of Law will present on the topics "The Relationship between HCIA and Other Investigative Agencies" and "Limitations of the HCIA Act and Measures to Enhance Investigative Capabilities," respectively. Prosecutor Park Si-young of HCIA, Professor Park No-seop of Hallym University’s School of Global Studies, and Professor Park Yong-chul of Sogang University’s Graduate School of Law will participate as discussants.

Session 2, moderated by Professor Won Hye-wook of Inha University’s Graduate School of Law, will feature presentations by Professor Choi Jeong-hak of Korea National Open University’s Department of Law on "Prosecutorial Reform and the Role of HCIA," and Professor Jo Jae-hyun of Dong-A University’s Graduate School of Law on "A Study on the Improvement Plans for HCIA’s Organization and Personnel." The discussion will include Prosecutor Kwon Do-hyung of HCIA, Associate Research Fellow Kim Young-joong of the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice, and Professor Emeritus Park Byung-sik of Dongguk University’s Department of Public Administration, Police, and Public Affairs.

HCIA stated that through this academic conference, it plans to actively reflect external objective evaluations and suggestions regarding its achievements and shortcomings over the past two years in its future activities and operations.

It added that it will review legal deficiencies and institutional limitations under the current criminal justice system surrounding HCIA with experts, and discuss and seek legal and institutional alternatives and improvement plans to enable HCIA to effectively fulfill the role entrusted by the public.

Kim Jin-wook, head of HCIA, said, "For HCIA to grow in line with public expectations, it is essential to properly evaluate the past two years, objectively analyze the current situation and legal system surrounding HCIA, and prepare for the future," urging interest and participation from all sectors in the academic conference.