Lee Jae-seung Appointed as Deputy Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office "Must Become an Investigation Agency Trusted by the People"

Lee Jae-seung, the newly appointed Deputy Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI), emphasized in his inaugural speech that "we must become an investigative agency trusted by the people."

Deputy Chief Lee made this statement at the inauguration ceremony held at the HOCI office in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the afternoon of the 30th.

On the afternoon of the 30th, at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Gwacheon Complex's Corruption Investigation Office, Lee Jae-seung, the new Deputy Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office, is delivering his inaugural address. Photo by Corruption Investigation Office

Deputy Chief Lee first expressed, "Today, I have taken on the important role of Deputy Chief of HOCI and stand here," adding, "I feel pleased to meet all of you and at the same time bear a heavy responsibility."

He said, "In May, I watched the inauguration speech of Director Oh Dong-woon of HOCI via video," and "I remember that the Director emphasized three points at that time."

Deputy Chief Lee stated, "First, HOCI must be an organization that excels in investigations as an investigative agency; second, HOCI must be a strong and stable organization; third, HOCI must closely cooperate with the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office, and the Police to achieve the common goal of eradicating corruption crimes among high-ranking officials," adding, "As the Deputy Chief, who is the Director's aide, I will do my best to prepare concrete measures so that the goals of HOCI's second term can be achieved."

He continued, "Moreover, while carrying out these tasks, I promise to listen carefully to all voices of HOCI members and meticulously manage various pending issues."

Deputy Chief Lee said, "It has already been over three years since HOCI was launched. HOCI is an anti-corruption investigative agency established with the historic mission of realizing a clean public service society," and added, "I understand that the fatigue of the members has accumulated as they have handled many difficult cases with limited personnel and resources."

He further stated, "However, from now on, I believe that HOCI must properly perform its original role and demonstrate this to the public, thereby becoming a national institution trusted by the people," and said, "To this end, I will work together with all HOCI members, sparing no time, to investigate corruption among high-ranking officials without exception, so that our society becomes corruption-free and clean, and HOCI can establish itself as a fair and competent anti-corruption investigative agency that meets the people's aspirations."

With President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval of the appointment, Deputy Chief Lee began his three-year term from that day.

Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the HOCI Act states, "The Deputy Chief shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Director from among those who have served in the positions listed in Article 5, Paragraph 1 for more than 10 years."

The Deputy Chief assists the Director and acts on behalf of the Director when the Director is unable to perform duties due to unavoidable reasons. The Director concurrently holds the position of HOCI prosecutor, and the term is three years without reappointment.

Attorney Lee, a graduate of Soongsil High School in Seoul and Seoul National University Law School, passed the 40th Judicial Examination in 1998 and completed the 30th Judicial Research and Training Institute.

After serving as a military legal officer in the Air Force, he was commissioned as a prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office in 2004 and worked as a prosecutor at Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Gangneung Branch, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch.

From 2012 to 2014, he was dispatched as a legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. After returning to the prosecution, he served as deputy chief prosecutor at Busan District Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor at Seosan Branch of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, head of the Cyber Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 3 at Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, and finally chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 3 at Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office before opening his law practice in 2020.

During his time as a prosecutor at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2011, he co-authored "A Practical Study on Defamation Cases," and in 2014, he obtained the Level 2 (Blue Belt) Certified Specialist Prosecutor qualification in defamation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. From 2018 to 2019, while serving as chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 3 at Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, he led departments specializing in gambling and violent crimes.

In August 2020, after being assigned as a prosecutor at Suwon High Prosecutors' Office in a subsequent personnel reshuffle, he resigned and has since worked as a criminal defense attorney at the law firm Jipyung.