Inaugural Busan Major Crime Investigation Office Chief Kim Gi-wook Starts Work, Vows Not to Repeat Past Mistakes

Kim Gi-wook, the inaugural chief of the Busan Regional Major Crime Investigation Office, reported to work today (the 6th), four days after the office's launch, stating, "Political neutrality and investigative independence cannot be emphasized enough."

During a door-step interview at the Busan office building in Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan, Chief Kim said, "Weren't the systems reorganized out of retrospective consideration of the past? Naturally, things like those in the past will not be repeated."

Kim emphasized that with the abolition of the prosecution service and the launch of the Major Crime Investigation Office bringing major changes to the investigative system, he will uphold the fundamental principles of criminal procedure: protecting the rights and interests of victims and safeguarding the human rights of suspects.

During today's first door-step interview, a flurry of questions poured in regarding specific pending issues such as the Busan office's staffing, office building, and internal personnel appointments, but his answers were limited.

The Busan Regional Major Crime Investigation Office currently has only about 74 percent of its authorized quota of 322 personnel filled.

While it has leased a total of 14 floors spanning the 10th to 23rd floors of a private building, only 3 floors are currently being used as office space, where all currently working personnel are gathered.

Personnel appointments for key positions, including the Grade 4 public relations officer, have not yet been finalized.

Kim said, "I understand that internal plans have been drawn up to a certain extent," adding, "While it is still difficult to mention exact, detailed schedules, I will do my best to ensure that there are no delays within the established plans."

Regarding criticisms that the Busan Major Crime Investigation Office could disrupt warrant processing due to its distance from the Public Prosecutors' Office, he noted that this is a common issue for regional major crime investigation offices nationwide.

Kim stated, "All regional major crime investigation offices are based on the jurisdiction of high courts, resulting in very wide jurisdictions," and added, "I believe this is an issue that the government needs to systematically sort out step by step at the institutional level. Under the current circumstances, we have no choice but to do our best."

When asked whether cases could also be sent to the Western Branch of the Busan Regional Public Prosecutors' Office, he replied, "That matter is still under discussion," and added, "There will be an opportunity to talk about the details later."

Kim cited resolving inconveniences for petitioners as the top priority issue.

He said, "Although there are many inadequacies, there must be no negligence in various petition services," and added, "I intend to make resolving inconveniences for petitioners in filing petitions and other matters the top priority."

Kim is a former judge who graduated from Seoul Seorabol High School and Kyung Hee University's Department of Law, and completed the 33rd Judicial Research and Training Institute.

After working as a judge at the Suwon District Court Seongnam Branch and the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch, he opened a private law practice and recently served as an independent counsel assistant on the special counsel team led by special counsel Ahn Kwon-seop, investigating the so-called envelope-cash and Coupang suspicions.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.