This week, Kim Jin-wook, the Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), who is retiring after a three-year term, said, "As the inaugural CIO chief, I am leaving after establishing the human, material, normative, and systemic foundations that my successors can work on."
Kim attended a regular briefing held at the CIO press room in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the day and responded this way when asked about the achievements of the past three years.
Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, is attending a regular briefing held at the Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency press room in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 16th, answering reporters' questions. Photo by Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency
He mentioned attending a discussion invited by the Kwanhun Club early in his tenure, saying, "At that time, there was a question, 'What do you think is the biggest challenge as the inaugural CIO chief?'" and added, "Now, three years later, I ask myself the same question again, so please take this into consideration."
Kim said, "To summarize what I answered, before my inauguration until early April, I did door-stepping for over 100 days, and the most frequent question I received was, 'What will be the first case you investigate?'" He continued, "While it is important to investigate one or two cases and achieve results, I thought that, as the inaugural chief, it was more important to establish the foundation and then leave."
Kim stated, "We selected and trained the right people and agreed on the rules for working together (human foundation), resolved the issue of relocating the office due to inadequate security (material foundation), created hundreds of regulations to operate the agency (normative foundation), and built and connected the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) (systemic foundation)."
Regarding various criticisms of the CIO, he said, "I humbly accept the criticisms," but added, "However, there are many misunderstandings. I think people outside do not know the facts or internal circumstances well. I cannot explain everything in detail, but history will judge us later."
He continued, "When prosecutors and investigators here actually work, they feel a certain pressure. Since these are sensitive cases with political implications, they cannot be directly compared to the prosecution. While the prosecution handles so-called three or four major cases such as traffic accidents, violence, theft, and fraud, which account for 50-60%, the CIO investigates serious cases like abuse of authority."
He particularly pointed out that the lack of guaranteed status for CIO prosecutors and investigators is an obstacle to organizational operation.
Kim expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "As you know, conditions are not good. Limited personnel and a three-year term with no guarantee of renewal cause insecurity about status," and added, "They are either term-based public officials or contract workers, with no guarantee of renewal or retirement."
He further explained, "When choosing a workplace, people think of it as a lifelong job, and only after five or ten years does it become their organization. If people with seven to ten years of experience come here and work for three years with uncertain renewal, the conditions are actually poor structurally," and said, "Management inside is not good. There may be personal or health reasons, but structural problems cause such issues."
Kim also expressed regret about the cooperative relationship with other investigative agencies such as the prosecution.
He said, "There have been various opinions from academia about cooperation," and added, "Originally, the CIO Act draft included a clause that cooperation was mandatory, but unfortunately, that clause was removed in the final law."
Kim explained, "Because when a new agency is created, voluntary cooperation is not easy," and cited the example of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption, saying, "Even there, conflicts lasted over ten years before settling."
He continued, "Unless the law mandates cooperation, it is difficult. Especially in relationships where agencies compete for authority, artificial cooperation is very difficult," and said, "In that regard, academia suggests that legislative solutions are necessary."
When asked what he would like to advise his successor, Kim said, "Once the next CIO chief is appointed, I will have things to discuss with them separately. There will be matters to disclose publicly and others to hand over confidentially," and refrained from elaborating.
However, Kim urged the remaining CIO staff to maintain their original intentions and work steadfastly.
He said, "If I have something to say to those who will continue working here, this organization has been debated for 25 years, hasn't it? It was a campaign pledge every presidential election," and added, "After 25 years of debate, it was established, and if we are here, it means this organization is necessary. Let's not lose sight of why we are here and why I came here. I want to say, let's work without wavering."
At the meeting with reporters that day, before taking questions at the beginning of the session, Kim said, "Today’s gathering is just a farewell," and added, "Rather than a meeting, I see this as an opportunity to thank the reporters who have covered the CIO and worked hard during my term as the head of the agency."
He also said, "It took 25 years from 1996 to 2021 to establish the CIO in our country, and the new system has been in operation for three years," and added, "I hope you view it from the perspective that the new judicial system should take root and function well within the legal order to benefit the national interest. I will accept criticism, but please take an interest in how the CIO can operate properly."
Kim, who took office on January 21, 2021, will retire on the 20th after completing his three-year term. The retirement ceremony will be held on the 19th at 10:30 a.m. at the CIO building.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
