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Serious Crime Investigation Agency launches in South Korea
South Korea has officially launched a major overhaul of its criminal justice system, marking the end of the 78-year-old Prosecution Service era. The transition introduces two new entities: the Prosecution Service (Gongso-cheong), which focuses on indictment, public prosecution maintenance, and judicial control, and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which takes over direct investigation powers for seven major crime categories, including corruption, economy, drugs, and cybercrime.
The SCIA began operations with approximately 1,900 personnel, representing 66.1% of its planned 2,874-member workforce. The agency is currently operating without a permanent head, as the appointment of nominee Kim Ji-yong is pending; Deputy Jeon Jong-min is serving as the acting head. Due to the rapid transition, the SCIA's internal information system (KICS) will initially only support basic functions like case reception and assignment, with full implementation expected in December.
Under the new system, the division of labor is clearly defined: the SCIA handles major crimes, while the police manage general cases. For economic crimes, the SCIA investigates those involving damages exceeding 500 million won, while the police handle cases below that threshold. The Prosecution Service has also undergone restructuring, abolishing 42 direct investigation departments and replacing them with 29 major crime indictment departments to focus on trial-related duties and human rights protection.
Entities
Jeon Jong-min · Kim Ji-yong · Lee Jae-myung · Lee Jung-hyun · Prosecution Service · Serious Crime Investigation Agency · South Korea
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The SCIA's KICS will only support basic functions like case reception and assignment until full implementation in December. www.jnilbo.com · www.hani.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] President Lee Jae-myung stated that the era of political prosecutors has ended.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The SCIA will handle economic crimes exceeding 500 million won, while the police will handle cases below that threshold. www.jnilbo.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The SCIA launched with approximately 1,900 personnel, which is 66.1% of its total planned workforce of 2,874. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com · www.hani.co.kr
- [● 5 SOURCES] The SCIA launched without a permanent head as the appointment process for nominee Kim Ji-yong is pending. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lee Jung-hyun, Deputy Prosecutor General, is serving as the acting head of the Prosecution Service.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Prosecution Service will handle prosecution and maintenance of public prosecution, while the SCIA will investigate seven major crimes including corruption, economy, defense, drugs, national保护, and www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) officially launched on the 2nd. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Prosecution Service will focus on prosecution and maintenance of public prosecution, while the SCIA handles major's www.imaeil.com · www.hani.co.kr · www.mbn.co.kr