The Corruption Investigation Office reduces prosecutors in the Case Investigation Analysis Office and Prosecution Department, increases personnel in the Investigation Planning Office and Investigation Division 1... First regular personnel reshuffle

Reduction of Prosecutors in the Investigation and Analysis Office Following the Abolition of the 'Selective Indictment' System by the Chief of the Public Corruption Investigation Office
One Prosecutor Reduced in the Prosecution Department Due to the Diminished Role of Prosecutors in Charge of Prosecution

Office Assignment Chart of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Prosecutors./Photo by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office website screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) carried out personnel changes on the 21st, reducing one investigator from the Case Investigation and Analysis Office and one prosecutor from the Prosecution Department, while increasing one prosecutor in Investigation Division 1.

This measure reflects the contents of the revised Case Handling Regulations scheduled to take effect in March.

On this day, HOCI conducted its first regular personnel reshuffle since its launch, reassigning 12 prosecutors.

First, the number of prosecutors in the Case Investigation and Analysis Office and the Prosecution Department, which were previously two each, was reduced to one each. This is a response to the abolition of the HOCI chief's 'selective indictment' system and the reduction of duties for prosecutors in charge of prosecution, as stipulated in the revised 'HOCI Case Handling Regulations' announced for legislative notice last month.

Until now, HOCI has decided on whether to indict cases directly through the chief after the investigation and analysis stage. In this context, HOCI faced controversy over bias after indicting four cases related to Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. According to the revised regulations to be implemented in March, all complaint and accusation cases will be automatically indicted upon receipt, similar to the prosecution and police.

Also, unlike the current system where prosecutors in charge of prosecution decide on indictment and requests for indictment under the direction and supervision of the HOCI chief, from March onward, only cases separated by investigation and prosecution as decided by the chief will have indictment decisions made by the prosecution department, thereby reducing its role. For general cases, the prosecutor who conducted the investigation will directly decide on indictment under the chief's direction and supervision.

Through this personnel change, Prosecutor Kwon Do-hyung from the Case Investigation and Analysis Office and Prosecutors Yoon Joon-sik and Choi Moon-jung from the Prosecution Department were all transferred to Investigation Division 2, while Prosecutor Choi Jin-hong from Investigation Division 3 was reassigned to the Prosecution Department.

In the Investigation Planning Office, where Prosecutor Kim Soo-jung was working alone, Prosecutor Heo Yoon from Investigation Division 3 was added, bringing the total to two prosecutors.

HOCI stated that these measures were taken to ▲strengthen planning and coordination related to investigative work ▲expand external affairs with the National Assembly and government ministries ▲respond to the increased need for cooperation with other investigative agencies such as the prosecution and police.

Additionally, HOCI reassigned prosecutors in the investigation divisions reflecting their investigative experience, areas of expertise, and personal preferences. Through this reshuffle, a total of 12 prosecutors were relocated, including seven moving among the three investigation divisions: Investigation Divisions 1, 2, and 3.

Prosecutors Lee Seung-gyu and Kim Il-ro from Investigation Division 2 and Prosecutor Kim Sook-jung from Investigation Division 3 moved to Investigation Division 1. Prosecutor Song Young-sun from Investigation Division 1 and Prosecutors Yoon Joon-sik and Choi Moon-jung from the Prosecution Department were assigned to Investigation Division 2. Prosecutor Kim Sung-jin from Investigation Division 1 and Prosecutors Kim Song-kyung and Lee Jong-soo from Investigation Division 2 were transferred to Investigation Division 3, while Prosecutor Choi Jin-hong from Investigation Division 3 moved to the Prosecution Department.

HOCI announced that, barring special circumstances, regular personnel reshuffles for prosecutors will be held every February.

HOCI stated, "This personnel reshuffle is the first regular reshuffle since HOCI's launch, partially reflecting the implementation of the revised Case Handling Regulations (scheduled for March 2022) and forthcoming organizational revisions. It aims to revitalize the organization as an independent investigative agency entering its second year by promoting rotation and exchange among investigative departments."

Furthermore, HOCI said, "Marking the second year of Director Kim Jin-wook's tenure, this first regular personnel reshuffle for prosecutors will serve as another opportunity to strengthen investigative capabilities. We will strive to evolve into an independent and neutral investigative agency that is human rights-friendly, considering not only legality but also appropriateness, thereby earning public trust."

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