[Column] "The Corruption Investigation Office Can Also Be Special Prosecuted"... But the Corruption Investigation Office Can't Even Present Its Business Card

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] "Originally, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was established with the nature of a permanent special prosecutor's office."

This is what a law professor recently told a reporter. In academia, many share the same opinion as this professor. Another professor said, "Discussions about the CIO and the permanent special prosecutor's office have always gone hand in hand." There have been 14 special prosecutors so far, 13 of which were individual special prosecutors. Individual special prosecutors are appointed by creating separate legislation and operate temporarily. Due to their rushed nature, various problems and limitations have been exposed. Because of this, research and discussions on a permanent special prosecutor's office have been steadily conducted, and the need arose to establish the CIO as a standing institution capable of handling a permanent special prosecutor's office.

A 2019 report titled "A Study on the CIO" published by the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice also diagnosed that the Permanent Special Prosecutor Act is practically ineffective. The report stated, "There are criticisms that the appointment requirements are complicated and that the president's involvement is excessive," adding, "This highlights the necessity of an independent investigative agency (CIO) for corruption crimes targeting high-ranking officials."

In the political and legal circles' discussions on the "Daejang-dong and accusation referral special prosecutor," the CIO is absent. While an institutional special prosecutor utilizing the CIO is possible, no such opinions have emerged anywhere. The CIO has been in operation for just over 300 days. The organization remains unstable, and although the staff quota has been filled, manpower is still insufficient. The absence of the CIO in special prosecutor discussions has drawn criticism that the CIO itself has brought this upon. Unprofessional investigative behavior and questioned political neutrality are representative issues.

The CIO has re-requested an arrest warrant for Prosecutor Son Jun-sung, the key suspect in the "accusation referral" allegations. This is seen as a decisive move to open a path for the investigation and restore its honor, as well as a strong measure to demonstrate its reason for existence. Recently, the CIO has been at a dead end. The "accusation referral" investigation has made no progress and has been embroiled in controversies over the legality of search and seizure. If Prosecutor Son's warrant is dismissed again, the future will be truly bleak. Crisis theories and calls for abolition may even be highlighted.

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