▲ A signboard is hung at the Rene Square building in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the Major Crime Investigation Agency will be housed ahead of its official opening on October 2.
Choi Jae-min, a lawyer with a prosecutor background, is set to be appointed as the head of the Seoul Major Crime Investigation Agency, and Jeon Jong-min, a lawyer with a judge background, as the deputy head of the agency, which launches tomorrow (October 2).
Lim Eun-jung, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, has been selected to head the Gwangju Major Crime Investigation Agency.
The Major Crime Investigation Agency will begin operations with only 1,900 personnel filled, which is 66.1 percent of its total quota of 2,874.
The Korea Information System for Criminal Justice Services (KICS) will also operate essential functions first, with the remaining functions scheduled to be launched in early December.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced today (October 1) the nominees for seven Grade 1 investigator positions, including the deputy head of the agency and regional agency heads.
Nominee for the first head of the Seoul Major Crime Investigation Agency, Choi Jae-min (55, 30th Judicial Research and Training Institute), is a former prosecutor.
He graduated from Muhak High School in Gyeongbuk and Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in law.
He served as Senior Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, directing frontline investigations.
Ending his career at the prosecution as head of the Inspection Department at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in 2023, he left the prosecution and has been practicing under his own law office.
Jeon Jong-min (59, 24th Judicial Research and Training Institute), who was selected as the deputy head of the headquarters, is a former judge.
He graduated from Konkuk University High School and Seoul National University with a degree in judicial science.
He served as a judge at the Chuncheon District Court, Uijeongbu District Court, and Seoul Administrative Court.
After leaving the bench in 2006, he has worked as a lawyer at Law Firm KnC.
Kim Hyeonggeun, a former prosecutor and lawyer at the Hyeonggeun & Jongpil Law Office, is set to be appointed as the head of the Suwon Major Crime Investigation Agency.
Lawyer Kim (57, 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute) graduated from Sunduk High School in Seoul and Korea University with a degree in law.
He served as a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and head of the Bucheon Branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.
He also served as an assistant special prosecutor in the cases of the state affairs scandal and illegal election interference.
Moon Hong-ju, a former judge (58, 31st Judicial Research and Training Institute), is set to be appointed as the head of the Daejeon Major Crime Investigation Agency.
He graduated from Insung High School in Gwangju and Seoul National University with a degree in international economics.
He served as an assistant special prosecutor in the state affairs scandal and election interference cases, and worked as a senior judge at the Suwon Family Court.
Having passed through law firms Aram and Hanbaek, he is currently working as a lawyer at Law Firm Ilseon.
Hong Jong-hee (59, 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute), auditor at the Korea Legal Aid Corporation under the Korean Bar Association, has been selected as the head of the Daegu Major Crime Investigation Agency.
She graduated from Jeonnam Girls' High School and Seoul National University with a degree in judicial science.
She served as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.
Kim Ki-wook (56, 33rd Judicial Research and Training Institute), a former judge who has worked as a lawyer at Law Firm Jungryul, has been designated as the head of the Busan Major Crime Investigation Agency.
He graduated from Seorabeol High School in Seoul and Kyung Hee University with a degree in law.
He worked as a judge at the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court and the Gangneung Branch of the Chuncheon District Court.
Lim Eun-jung (52, 30th Judicial Research and Training Institute), Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, has been chosen as the head of the Gwangju Major Crime Investigation Agency.
She graduated from Namsung Girls' High School in Busan and Korea University with a degree in law.
She served as head prosecutor at the Major Economic Crime Investigation Division of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office and Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, respectively.
She also worked as the inspection officer for the Ministry of Justice.
Among the seven Grade 1 investigators nominated this time, including the deputy agency head and regional agency heads, four are from the prosecution service, including Chief Prosecutor Lim.
Three individuals have backgrounds as judges.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that they were selected through career recruitment and special appointments by comprehensively considering the experience and expertise required for the positions.
They are scheduled to be appointed on the opening day of the agency through relevant procedures.
The Major Crime Investigation Agency will begin operations by tentatively filling 1,900 personnel, which is 66.1 percent of its total quota of 2,874 at the initial stage of its launch.
The final number of personnel will be finalized after the appointment procedures are completed.
The staffing fill rate against the quota for the headquarters and regional offices is highest at the Busan office with 74.2 percent.
The Gwangju office is the lowest at 58.3 percent.
The Seoul office is 68.9 percent, Daegu office 65.5 percent, Suwon office 63.6 percent, headquarters 63.1 percent, and Daejeon office 60.2 percent.
The unfilled positions are planned to be filled through career recruitment targeting external experts such as police officers, lawyers, and accountants.
A cooperative task force (TF) involving related organizations such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Major Crime Investigation Agency will be formed to push forward the recruitment procedures.
Additional special appointments for personnel from the Public Prosecutor's Office will also be reviewed considering future human resources management conditions.
According to the Major Crime Investigation Agency Act, personnel from the Public Prosecutor's Office can be specially appointed until April 30, 2027.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety also disclosed the preparation status for the opening of the Major Crime Investigation Agency.
At tomorrow's opening, essential office spaces, operational networks, and internet networks necessary for civil petitions, investigations, and administrative tasks will be set up first.
Construction for creating the remaining office environment is scheduled to be completed within this year.
In consultation with the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Justice, detention centers and correctional facilities near each regional major crime investigation agency will be designated and operated as detention facilities for suspects detained for major crimes.
The Seoul Major Crime Investigation Agency will utilize detention cells at the Suseo, Seongdong, and Seocho police stations, and use the Nambu Detention Center as a correctional facility.
The Korea Information System for Criminal Justice Services (KICS) will first launch essential functions tomorrow, such as receiving, accepting, and allocating transfers of major crime cases.
The remaining functions, such as case processing, are scheduled to be launched in the second phase in early December.
The government has compiled a total budget of 472.4 billion won for 2027 necessary for major crime investigations and submitted it to the National Assembly.
Personnel expenses amount to 229.9 billion won, project expenses 217.3 billion won, and basic expenses 25.2 billion won.
The budget required for agency operations in the fourth quarter of this year is planned to be transferred from the Prosecutors' Office and used.
The preparation task force for the opening of the Major Crime Investigation Agency will hold an opening ceremony at the agency's headquarters located in Rene Square, Jung-gu, Seoul, at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yunho, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee Kim Young-jin, Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Seo Young-kyo, Minister of National Court Administration Noh Kyung-pil, and Head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Oh Dong-woon will attend.
Around 120 people, including executives and staff of the agency, are scheduled to attend.
Kim Min-jae, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety and head of the preparation task force for the opening of the agency, stated, "We will do our best to ensure that the Major Crime Investigation Agency takes root as a competent and trusted specialized investigative agency that investigates fairly and effectively in accordance with law and principles, and protects the lives of the people."
Taking over major investigative functions from the abolished Prosecutors' Office, the Major Crime Investigation Agency will exclusively handle investigations into seven major crimes: corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisition, narcotics, national protection, cybercrime, and the crime of judicial distortion.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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