[2021 National Audit] Director Kim Jin-wook on Additional Prosecutor Recruitment: "Political Neutrality Comes First"

Kim Jin-wook, the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, attended the National Assembly's inspection on the 12th held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee regarding the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and is reporting on the office's work. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, expressed his stance on additional prosecutor recruitment, stating that "political neutrality will be prioritized."

On the 12th, at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the agency, Kim responded to a question from Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "If investigative capability and political neutrality conflict in recruitment, which would you prioritize?"

Regarding So Byung-chul, a Democratic Party member's criticism about the lack of organic cooperation with the prosecution, Kim said, "We held a tripartite consultative body with the agency, prosecution, and police, but it ended in a stalemate," adding, "We are reviewing and promoting solutions through presidential decrees or legislation, similar to the adjustment of concurrent and parallel investigative rights."

On the delay in establishing the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS), he revealed, "There are difficulties because one agency's consent is hard to obtain due to legal issues." Additionally, concerning the need for the agency's own building located in the Government Complex Gwacheon, he stated, "It is necessary for security reasons."

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