The Corruption Investigation Office Abolishes Department Amid 'Selective Investigation' Controversy... Establishes Human Rights Investigation Research Officer Position

Abolition of the Incident Investigation and Analysis Office... Some 'Prosecution Functions' Also Assigned to the Investigation Department

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has decided to abolish the 'Case Investigation Analysis Office' to dispel misunderstandings that it selectively investigates cases.

Until now, the CIO has been criticized for "selective investigation" after filing four cases related to Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party.

On the 3rd, ahead of the announcement and enforcement of the Case Handling Rules, the CIO announced that it plans to issue a legislative notice on the 4th regarding the revision of its organizational structure, which includes abolishing the Case Investigation Analysis Office and establishing a Human Rights Investigation Research Officer.

The main points of the revised organizational structure are ▲abolition of the Case Investigation Analysis Office ▲establishment of the Human Rights Investigation Research Officer ▲assigning some prosecution-related functions to the Investigation Department ▲and renaming some administrative support departments.

With the abolition of the case investigation analysis phase, the CIO has abolished the Case Investigation Analysis Office and established the Human Rights Investigation Research Officer to ensure human rights-friendly investigations and compliance with due process, responsible for related research and education. The Human Rights Investigation Research Officer will also support investigation operations such as the Investigation Deliberation Committee.

As rules separating investigation and prosecution for cases decided by the CIO head are introduced, the functions of the Prosecution Department will be partially reduced, and prosecution-related functions will be added to the Investigation Department.

Additionally, the Policy Planning Officer will be renamed the Planning Coordination Officer, and the Policy Planning Officer in charge will be renamed the Planning and Finance Officer.

The legislative notice period for the organizational structure revision and the Case Handling Rules revision is until the 7th, and the CIO plans to promulgate and enforce both revisions simultaneously after reviewing external opinions.

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