▲ Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) expressed its opposition during a regular briefing held today (October 6) to political moves to transfer the authority to investigate the president, prime minister, cabinet ministers, and lawmakers to a proposed Serious Crime Investigation Agency.
Regarding the revision bill to the Corruption Investigation Act currently being pushed by the ruling party, the CIO stated, "The Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the police fall under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and their minister is appointed by the president. Entrusting investigations solely to agencies within the president's chain of command would be a regression in the system of checks and balances."
Kim Baek-gi, spokesperson for the CIO, said, "This structure turns the direct supervisory body of the subject of investigation into the investigative agency itself." He added, "There is a high possibility of a setback in terms of the CIO's substantive independence and public trust, and it does not align with the legislative purpose of the Corruption Investigation Act, which is to eradicate crimes by high-ranking officials from an independent status."
Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers belonging to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plan to hold a seminar tomorrow (October 7) on the "complete reorganization of the CIO's functions," keeping in mind the amendment of the Corruption Investigation Act.
The Democratic Party is reviewing a plan to revise the current Corruption Investigation Act—which stipulates that crimes by high-ranking officials in general can be investigated—to focus instead on judicial and investigative officials, such as judges, prosecutors, investigators, and police officers.
The current Corruption Investigation Act designates the president, prime minister, and cabinet ministers of the executive branch; the National Assembly speaker and lawmakers of the legislative branch; judges and prosecutors; police officers of senior superintendent general rank or higher; and military generals as subjects of investigation.
Taking into account the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the need to keep the police in check, a plan is being reviewed under which the CIO would exclusively investigate judges, prosecutors, investigators, and police officers—expanding its scope to cover all police officers rather than only those of senior superintendent general rank or higher.
The CIO explained that it has not yet presented its opinions or engaged in prior consultations regarding such political plans.
However, the CIO's Director of Investigation Planning is scheduled to attend tomorrow's (October 7) seminar.
In addition, political circles are considering expanding the CIO—which currently maintains only a headquarters in the Government Complex Gwacheon—into a nationwide organization to keep local prosecutors' offices, serious crime investigation agencies, and provincial police agencies in check.
Regarding this, the CIO expressed in-principle agreement, stating, "The jurisdiction of the CIO is nationwide," but adding, "The problem is that it is difficult to handle without securing corresponding manpower and organization."
Furthermore, addressing the fact that its request to increase its staffing quota since August had not been accepted, the CIO expressed regret, saying, "With our current personnel, there are parts where it is difficult to fulfill the founding purpose of the CIO."
(Photo: Provided by CIO, Yonhap News)
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