The 78-year era of the Prosecutor's Office is coming to an end as the new Prosecutor's Office and Major Crimes Investigation Agency are set to launch. The Prosecutor's Office will utilize the existing facilities but will focus on warrant applications and case reviews rather than direct investigations. Although the Major Crimes Agency appointed its deputy chief and six local chiefs the day before its launch, it will start with only two-thirds of its intended personnel, raising concerns about its initial effectiveness.
According to legal sources on October 1, the Prosecutor's Office, under the Ministry of Justice, will handle prosecutions and judicial oversight, while the Major Crimes Agency, under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will investigate serious crimes such as corruption, economic offenses, and drug-related cases. The police will be responsible for general and public safety crime investigations. Both agencies will begin operations without formal leadership.
Using Taeguk Symbol Until New Logo is Ready; Focus on Judicial Oversight Instead of Direct Investigations
On this day, the removal of road signs and the Prosecutor's Office logo began early in the morning at the Seoul High Court and the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. The bronze plaque was taken down around 5 p.m., and the Prosecutor's flag is scheduled to be lowered at midnight. Until a new logo for the Prosecutor's Office is established, the government will use the Taeguk symbol, which represents government agencies.
While the Prosecutor's Office will inherit the existing facilities and personnel, its role will change. Prosecutors will no longer conduct direct investigations or supplementary investigations; instead, they will focus on warrant applications, requests for supplementary investigations and re-investigations, and reviews of non-prosecution cases. The channels for filing complaints and reports will also shift to the police and the Major Crimes Agency.
Forty-three departments responsible for direct and joint investigations will be dissolved, and 29 dedicated major crimes units will be established. A newly created non-prosecution review unit will assess the appropriateness of non-prosecution cases. The authorized number of prosecutors is 2,292, but due to retirements and departures, approximately 1,900 are expected to participate at launch.
Existing investigation cases will be gradually transferred. However, cases nearing the statute of limitations will be investigated by Prosecutor's Office prosecutors for up to 90 days. For the time being, the organization will be led by Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jung-hyun.
While the Prosecutor's Office will inherit the existing facilities and personnel, its role will change. Prosecutors will no longer conduct direct investigations or supplementary investigations; instead, they will focus on warrant applications, requests for supplementary investigations and re-investigations, and reviews of non-prosecution cases. The channels for filing complaints and reports will also shift to the police and the Major Crimes Agency.
Forty-three departments responsible for direct and joint investigations will be dissolved, and 29 dedicated major crimes units will be established. A newly created non-prosecution review unit will assess the appropriateness of non-prosecution cases. The authorized number of prosecutors is 2,292, but due to retirements and departures, approximately 1,900 are expected to participate at launch.
Existing investigation cases will be gradually transferred. However, cases nearing the statute of limitations will be investigated by Prosecutor's Office prosecutors for up to 90 days. For the time being, the organization will be led by Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jung-hyun.
Deputy Chief and Local Chiefs Appointed; Major Crimes Agency Opens with 66% Staffing
The preparation team for the Major Crimes Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that Jeon Jong-min, a former judge and attorney at law firm KnC, has been appointed as the deputy chief.
Choi Jae-min has been designated as the chief of the Seoul Major Crimes Agency, Kim Hyung-geun as the chief of the Suwon branch, Moon Hong-joo as the chief of the Daejeon branch, Hong Jong-hee as the chief of the Daegu branch, Kim Ki-wook as the chief of the Busan branch, and Lim Eun-jung as the chief of the Gwangju branch. These first-level investigators will undergo the necessary procedures and be appointed on October 2.
The selection of the chief is still ongoing. The Blue House has stated that it will soon send a request for a personnel hearing for Kim Ji-yong, but due to the remaining hearing process, there will be a gap in leadership on the agency's launch day.
Kim was nominated on September 8, but his appointment has faced controversy due to opposition within the ruling party, leading to further scrutiny. Critics have raised concerns about his suitability based on his past as a prosecutor.
The Lawyers for a Democratic Society's Judicial Center stated, "He has not agreed with the core principles of prosecutor reform, which emphasizes the separation of investigation and prosecution," adding, "In fact, he has actively opposed prosecutor reform." Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae noted that Kim opposed the disciplinary action against Yoon Seok-yeol and was among the signatories of a joint statement from senior prosecutors opposing the suspension and disciplinary action against Yoon.
In response, the preparation team for the Major Crimes Agency held a briefing on the 17th to clarify the allegations regarding Kim's qualifications and conduct.
The initial staffing is projected at 1,900, which is 66.1% of the authorized 2,874 positions. The final number will be confirmed after the appointment process is completed. Any staffing shortfalls will be addressed through hiring experienced personnel from the police, legal, and accounting fields, and additional special appointments from the Prosecutor's Office will also be considered.
At the Renaissance Square building in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the main office and Seoul branch will be located, facility work and equipment installation continued on this day. The preparation team stated that it will prioritize establishing spaces and networks necessary for public service, investigations, and administration, with the remaining office environment construction expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) will begin operations on October 2, starting with case transfer reception and assignment functions. Other functions related to case processing are expected to be operational by early December. Instead of having its own detention center, the agency will coordinate with the police and the Ministry of Justice to designate and operate nearby detention centers and correctional facilities.
During the transition of cases and personnel from the existing joint investigation organization to the Major Crimes Agency, continuity of investigations must be maintained. The police declared a state of emergency on this day, agreeing to conduct overlapping checks on the handling of important cases and those requested by prosecutors at police stations, regional police agencies, and the National Investigation Agency.
Choi Jae-min has been designated as the chief of the Seoul Major Crimes Agency, Kim Hyung-geun as the chief of the Suwon branch, Moon Hong-joo as the chief of the Daejeon branch, Hong Jong-hee as the chief of the Daegu branch, Kim Ki-wook as the chief of the Busan branch, and Lim Eun-jung as the chief of the Gwangju branch. These first-level investigators will undergo the necessary procedures and be appointed on October 2.
The selection of the chief is still ongoing. The Blue House has stated that it will soon send a request for a personnel hearing for Kim Ji-yong, but due to the remaining hearing process, there will be a gap in leadership on the agency's launch day.
Kim was nominated on September 8, but his appointment has faced controversy due to opposition within the ruling party, leading to further scrutiny. Critics have raised concerns about his suitability based on his past as a prosecutor.
The Lawyers for a Democratic Society's Judicial Center stated, "He has not agreed with the core principles of prosecutor reform, which emphasizes the separation of investigation and prosecution," adding, "In fact, he has actively opposed prosecutor reform." Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae noted that Kim opposed the disciplinary action against Yoon Seok-yeol and was among the signatories of a joint statement from senior prosecutors opposing the suspension and disciplinary action against Yoon.
In response, the preparation team for the Major Crimes Agency held a briefing on the 17th to clarify the allegations regarding Kim's qualifications and conduct.
The initial staffing is projected at 1,900, which is 66.1% of the authorized 2,874 positions. The final number will be confirmed after the appointment process is completed. Any staffing shortfalls will be addressed through hiring experienced personnel from the police, legal, and accounting fields, and additional special appointments from the Prosecutor's Office will also be considered.
At the Renaissance Square building in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the main office and Seoul branch will be located, facility work and equipment installation continued on this day. The preparation team stated that it will prioritize establishing spaces and networks necessary for public service, investigations, and administration, with the remaining office environment construction expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) will begin operations on October 2, starting with case transfer reception and assignment functions. Other functions related to case processing are expected to be operational by early December. Instead of having its own detention center, the agency will coordinate with the police and the Ministry of Justice to designate and operate nearby detention centers and correctional facilities.
During the transition of cases and personnel from the existing joint investigation organization to the Major Crimes Agency, continuity of investigations must be maintained. The police declared a state of emergency on this day, agreeing to conduct overlapping checks on the handling of important cases and those requested by prosecutors at police stations, regional police agencies, and the National Investigation Agency.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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