Subordinate decrees outlining the operational standards and organizational structure of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, set to launch in October, have passed the Cabinet meeting.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that enactment bills for the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Organization and Operation of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the Organization of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and Its Affiliated Agencies, and the Enforcement Decree on the Appointment of Investigators for the Serious Crime Investigation Agency were approved during the Cabinet meeting today (the 18th).

The decrees approved today contain necessary provisions regarding detailed operational standards, organization and staffing, and personnel management of investigators for the agency, following a legislative notice period from the 5th to the 10th.

The Serious Crime Investigation Agency will investigate seven major crimes, including corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisition, narcotics, crimes against state protection such as rebellion and foreign aggression, cybercrimes, and the crime of distorting the law. It will consist of a total of 2,874 personnel, including 2,567 investigators and 307 general-service public officials.

Dedicated and joint investigation departments tailored to specific crime types will also be established across regional branch offices, such as a joint investigation division for voice phishing, financial, and virtual asset crimes at the Seoul Regional Office.

These include the Defense Acquisition and Industrial Technology Investigation Division and the Joint Narcotics Investigation Division at the Suwon Regional Office, the Joint National Fiscal Crime Investigation Division at the Daejeon Regional Office, and the International Economic Crime Investigation Division at the Busan Regional Office.

As organizations dedicated exclusively to supplementary investigations requested by prosecutors, a Special Investigation Team for Vulnerable Crimes has been established at the headquarters, a Special Investigation Division for Vulnerable Crimes at the Seoul Regional Office, and Special Investigation Teams for Vulnerable Crimes at each regional office outside of Seoul.

Other investigative agencies are required to notify the Serious Crime Investigation Agency when they detect major crimes, and investigation review procedures have also been stipulated to allow external experts to check the legality and appropriateness of the agency's investigations.

In particular, a legal basis has been established to allow parties involved in cases to apply for investigation reviews.

The Candidate Recommendation Committee for the Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency will recommend three or more candidates from among those who pass qualification judgments, and individuals, corporations, and organizations will also be allowed to participate in the candidate recommendation process.

Prosecutors and investigators currently working at the prosecutors' office can transfer to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency without taking an exam if they wish to do so. Those equivalent to chief prosecutors will be appointed as Grade 1 investigators, deputy or senior prosecutors as Grade 2, prosecutors with 10 or more years of legal experience as Grade 3, and prosecutors with less than 10 years of experience as Grade 4 equivalents.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to proceed with subsequent procedures, including the composition of the Candidate Recommendation Committee for the Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the appointment of investigators, the arrangement of office buildings, and the establishment of systems.

(Photo: Yonhap News)