Jinwook Kim: "The manpower shortage at the Corruption Investigation Office is really serious"... Repeated apologies for immature behavior

"Enhance Crime Investigation and Prosecution Capabilities as Quickly as Possible"

Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, is delivering opening remarks at a press briefing held on the 16th in the training hall on the first floor of the Government Complex Gwacheon./Photo by Choi Seok-jin

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (HCIO), appealed that the HCIO’s manpower shortage problem is truly serious and urged everyone to help ensure the HCIO settles in well.

As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration announced its national agenda and indicated it would abolish Article 24 of the HCIO Act, which grants the HCIO priority investigative authority over corruption cases involving high-ranking officials, signaling a possible reorganization of the HCIO’s powers, attention is focused on whether manpower and budget can be secured as Kim Chief hopes.

Kim made these remarks at a press briefing held at the HCIO in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 16th.

In his opening remarks, Kim said, “On April 16 last year, 13 prosecutors were appointed, and on May 14, 18 investigators were appointed, forming the HCIO as an independent investigative agency, and now it has been one year. I first apologize for showing the public some immature aspects during this time.”

He added, “Although the HCIO was established amid intense controversy and has shown some shortcomings that did not meet public expectations, I still believe the founding principle of the HCIO?unwavering investigation of high-ranking officials and checks on power institutions?remains valid.”

Kim took the opportunity to address several issues facing the HCIO, pointing out the manpower shortage and the investigation security problems caused by the lack of an independent building.

He said, “The HCIO has over 7,000 high-ranking officials subject to investigation, but the total number of prosecutors, excluding the Chief and Deputy Chief, is only 23, which is comparable to a small branch office of the prosecution, similar in size to the recently opened Namyangju branch office. Moreover, two chief prosecutors to lead investigations remain vacant, and eight investigators still need to be recruited.”

Kim also stated, “In order to meet the July 15, 2020, enforcement date of the HCIO Act, the HCIO became the only investigative agency without an independent building and had to urgently move into two floors of Building 5 at the Gwacheon Complex, causing serious issues with investigation security. The Criminal Justice Information System (KICS), which started development last year, will only be completed next month, so until then, case management must be handled manually, continuing the difficulties.”

Kim said, “Although the conditions are challenging, as the first head of the HCIO, I will not lose sight of why the HCIO was established and why we are here. I will do my best to improve the HCIO’s crime investigation and prosecution capabilities to meet the public’s expectations as soon as possible.”

He mentioned that last year’s revision of the case handling rules abolished the HCIO Chief’s ‘selective filing’ system and established a control system for communication data inquiries, adding, “As a newly established investigative agency, there may be various trial-and-error processes in settling in, but if you point out any mistakes, we will always acknowledge and correct them.”

At the end of his remarks, Kim appealed to the attending reporters, saying, “As I mentioned, the HCIO is a system introduced after long discussions and controversies to solve the era’s challenges our society faces. Regardless of whether you have supported or opposed the HCIO, I believe it is in all our interests that everyone helps the HCIO system, which has already been introduced, to function properly and settle well within our country’s legal order.”

He added, “Especially since the HCIO is still in its infancy, I ask you to look into whether there are any design flaws in the HCIO system or blind spots in the HCIO Act that cause the current disappointment and malfunction, and to take an interest.”

He concluded by emphasizing the manpower shortage issue once again.

Kim said, “Currently, the HCIO handles all tasks of an independent administrative agency, including case reception and processing, budgeting and accounting, relations with the National Assembly and media, personnel and legislation, administrative appeals, and inspections, with a very small number of staff due to the HCIO Act’s staffing limits. The HCIO’s authorized personnel are only 25 prosecutors, 40 investigators, and 20 general staff, which is too small and causes a truly serious manpower shortage.” He continued, “I hope this chronic manpower shortage will soon be resolved so that the HCIO can operate properly in line with its necessity and raison d’?tre.”

This was Kim’s first public appearance in the media in almost a year since his first press briefing in June last year. The first anniversary press briefing scheduled for January this year was canceled amid the ‘communication inquiry’ controversy, and when the investigation results of the ‘report solicitation’ suspicion case were announced on the 4th, Kim left the briefing to Deputy Chief Yeo Woon-guk and did not appear himself.

Deputy Chief Yeo Woon-guk, Planning and Coordination Officer Kim Jung-yeol, Investigation Planning Officer Kim Su-jeong, Human Rights Investigation Policy Officer Yeo Sang-gyun, Acting Chief Prosecutor of Investigation Division 1 Lee Dae-hwan, Chief Prosecutor of Investigation Division 2 Kim Seong-moon, and Chief Prosecutor of Investigation Division 3 and Head of the Prosecution Division Choi Seok-gyu attended the briefing.

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