300 Days Before Launch Amid 'Yunsucheo' Criticism, Public Corruption Investigation Office Concludes Only Jo Hee-yeon Case... 11 Cases Under Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) will mark its 300th day since its launch on the 16th.

Launched with public expectations as an institution to check the prosecution, the recent perception around the HCIA has been cold.

This is because it has failed to produce any significant results. The investigation into the so-called 'report solicitation' allegations, which the agency has been focusing all its efforts on, has also reached a dead end. In political circles and some quarters, the HCIA is being criticized as 'Yoon HCIA' (Yoon Seok-yeol Investigation Agency). As it reaches 300 days, can the HCIA change?

To do so, it must first produce investigative results. According to the legal community on the 14th, since its launch on January 21, the HCIA has directly initiated investigations into 12 cases (23 cases by case number).

However, among these, the only case that has yielded results is the allegation of unfair special recruitment of dismissed teachers involving Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon. The HCIA took this as its first case after its launch and, after 128 days of investigation, requested the prosecution to indict, stating that the charges were recognized, but the prosecution has yet to respond.

The remaining 11 cases are still 'under investigation.' Among these, four are related to Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party.

In particular, regarding the so-called 'report solicitation' allegation case, the HCIA suffered embarrassment after repeatedly requesting arrest and detention warrants for Prosecutor Son Jun-sung, which were dismissed. It is difficult to even prove the charges against Prosecutor Son, let alone indict candidate Yoon, who was also booked in connection with the case.

Recently, the HCIA expanded the scope by additionally booking candidate Yoon and Prosecutor Son on allegations of illegally drafting the so-called 'judge surveillance documents.'

Meanwhile, the remaining seven cases?including Prosecutor Lee Kyu-won's false report writing case, Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Sung-yoon's indictment leakage case, former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's illegal departure ban obstruction case, and National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won's 'report solicitation' allegation?remain uncertain as to when they will be resolved.

The internal staff has not yet been fully filled. On the 28th of last month, the HCIA appointed eight additional prosecutors, filling all 23 prosecutor positions, including the chief and deputy chief.

However, the number of investigators working alongside the prosecutors is below the quota. According to the HCIA Act, the investigator quota is 40, but currently, only 36 investigators are working at the HCIA. This includes 14 appointed on the 29th of last month, 18 investigators hired internally in the first half of the year, 2 transferred investigators, and 2 investigators dispatched from the prosecution.

Regarding the shortage of personnel, HCIA Chief Kim Jin-wook said, "Although we face a situation of 'heavy responsibility and a long road ahead' (任重道遠), if we proceed with a mindset of slowly but surely advancing, we will soon reach our goal."

Despite the lack of significant achievements and the incomplete formation of its team, which has led to criticism, there is also a view that the HCIA should be given more time. Recently, by investigating and indicting prosecutors such as former Deputy Chief of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Jo Gam-gwan and Prosecutor Son Jun-sung, the HCIA has demonstrated its ability to check the prosecution's abuse of power, so it is argued that we should wait a bit longer until it can fully perform its role. Along with this, voices are also calling for institutional improvements and addressing legal shortcomings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.