The Corruption Investigation Office Increased the Proportion of Chief Prosecutors... Strengthening Planning and Analytical Capabilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) has restructured by increasing the number of chief prosecutors and promoting some positions. This move aims to strengthen the planning and analytical capabilities of investigations.

According to the electronic official gazette on the 18th, HCIA revised part of its organizational structure, adjusting the number of prosecutors excluding the chief and deputy chief from 4 chief prosecutors and 19 regular prosecutors to 7 chief prosecutors and 16 regular prosecutors.

The Investigation Planning Officer and Case Analysis and Investigation Officer were each promoted to Investigation Planning Director and Case Investigation and Analysis Director, respectively. The number of chief prosecutors was increased by three, with two of them assigned to the roles of Investigation Planning Director and Case Investigation and Analysis Director. The Investigation Planning Director's office and the Case Investigation and Analysis Director's office each have one and two regular prosecutors assigned, respectively.

The Investigation Planning Director collects crime information related to high-ranking officials' crimes and handles planning and coordination tasks related to investigative work. The Case Investigation and Analysis Director analyzes, verifies, and evaluates whether to initiate investigations on received cases and conducts necessary preliminary investigations.

HCIA explained, "The seven chief prosecutors consist of six as stipulated in the organizational structure and one prosecutor who performs duties specially assigned by the chief, operating outside the formal structure."

This appears to be in response to recent controversies over ambiguous criteria for case registration and allegations of procedural illegality in investigations.

HCIA plans to announce personnel changes soon according to the restructured organization. However, since there are currently only two chief prosecutors (heads of Investigation Departments 2 and 3), it seems difficult to fill the positions of Investigation Planning Director and Case Investigation and Analysis Director with chief prosecutors without separate promotion procedures for regular prosecutors.

Meanwhile, HCIA also partially restructured the number of investigators. The number of prosecution clerks (grade 5) increased from 9 to 13, prosecution assistants (grade 6) from 12 to 18, while prosecution junior assistants (grade 7) decreased from 13 to 3.

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