The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is abolishing the Special Investigation Headquarters and increasing the number of regular investigation departments.
High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency. Photo by Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency
On the 18th, the CIO announced a partial revision of its organizational regulations to establish a new 'Investigation Department 4' in addition to the existing Investigation Departments 1 to 3. The Prosecution Department, which was responsible for maintaining prosecutions in indicted cases, has been abolished, and going forward, the investigation departments that conducted the investigations will directly handle prosecution maintenance.
With the abolition of the Prosecution Department, the Special Investigation Headquarters, a temporary organization led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan, who was in charge of the Prosecution Department, will automatically be dissolved on the 27th. The Special Investigation Headquarters had effectively functioned as an investigation department, handling cases such as the Board of Audit and Inspection's targeted audit allegations, the death of Marine Chae Sang-byeong, and allegations of misconduct by Prosecutor Lee Jeong-seop.
A CIO official stated, "All investigations conducted by the Special Investigation Headquarters will be directly taken over and continued by Investigation Department 4." Chief Prosecutor Lee will also lead Investigation Department 4. The CIO explained that this organizational restructuring aims to "strengthen case response capabilities centered on the investigation departments and streamline case processing systems to enhance investigative efficiency."
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