Regarding criticisms over its insufficient investigative capabilities, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) stated that institutional foundations such as its organization and manpower must be overhauled first in order to yield results.

During a regular briefing on October 20, a CIO official remarked, "It is difficult to produce performance in a state where manpower and organization are not properly equipped."

The official added, "Our view is that unless the organization, manpower, and system are further normalized, it will be difficult to achieve better outcomes aligned with the founding purpose of the agency."

"When evaluating performance, we need to consider whether to compare it with the number of general criminal cases or with cases previously handled by the prosecution, meaning the comparison targets must also change," the official explained. "From that perspective, it would be difficult to say that we have no performance."

This was intended to mean that despite having a total of only 25 prosecutors including the head of the CIO, the agency has achieved considerable results, such as uncovering charges of bribery and abuse of power by high-ranking officials and indicting them.

During the parliamentary audit of the CIO by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on October 13, criticisms were raised that the agency may lack investigative capabilities, pointing out that since its launch in 2021, it has directly indicted 8 cases and handed over another 8 cases to the prosecution for indictment.

The CIO also repeatedly expressed opposition to moves within the ruling bloc, centered around political circles, to transfer the CIO's investigative authority over the president, prime minister, cabinet ministers, and lawmakers to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA).

In response to a related question, a CIO official stated, "Our position remains unchanged," adding, "I understand there is a parliamentary debate scheduled for November, and if given the opportunity, we plan to actively participate and voice our opinions."

Previously, Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers belonging to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee proposed revising the current Act on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials to focus its jurisdiction on investigative and judicial authorities such as judges, prosecutors, investigators, and police officers.

The current Corruption Investigation Office Act designates high-ranking officials as subjects of investigation, including the president, prime minister, and cabinet ministers from the executive branch, the speaker of the National Assembly and lawmakers from the legislative branch, judges, prosecutors, police officers of senior superintendent general rank or higher, and military officers of general rank.

During its regular briefing on October 6, the CIO also expressed opposition to these moves, stating, "The SCIA and the police belong to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and their ministers are appointed by the president. Entrusting investigations solely to agencies within the president's chain of command is a regression of the check-and-balance structure."

(Photo provided by the CIO, Yonhap News)