South Korea Launches Major Crime Investigation Agency with 2,874 Staff

The South Korean government will inaugurate the Major Crime Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청) on 2 October. The agency’s authorized personnel strength is set at 2,874, organized into a headquarters and six regional offices in Seoul, Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju. The Seoul office, handling the bulk of high‑profile cases, will house about 40 % of the total staff (1,089 personnel), three deputy heads and six specialized investigation divisions covering economic crime, financial crime, antitrust, anti‑corruption, drug offenses and advanced technology crimes.

Current prosecutors can transfer to the new agency without a competitive exam and will receive rank‑based positions ranging from senior prosecutor level (grade 1) to junior level (grade 4), along with salary benefits that are more favorable than typical civil‑service pay. These special employment terms apply from the agency’s opening until 30 April 2025. The headquarters will be located in the Renes Square building in Jung‑gu, Seoul, while the Daejeon office will temporarily occupy a site in Sejong. The agency will also adopt the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) initially used by the police, with a full transition expected to take several years.