Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, Visits the Crown Prosecution Service Following the UK Serious Fraud Office... Discussing Ways to Enhance Exchange and Cooperation

Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (photo right), visited the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London, UK, on the afternoon of the 23rd (local time). After discussing mutual cooperation with Antony Seaman, Director of the International Department (photo left), they took a commemorative photo. Photo by Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Kim Jin-wook, head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, currently visiting the United Kingdom, visited the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) under the National Crime Agency (NCA) on the 23rd (local time).

After visiting the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the UK the previous day and signing a memorandum of understanding with SFO Director Lisa Osofsky, Director Kim visited the CPS on this day, where he received explanations from Antony Salmon, Director of the International Division, about the CPS's key functions and roles within the UK criminal justice system, the phased cooperation with the police, and operational achievements, and discussed ways to enhance exchange and cooperation.

Earlier that morning, Director Kim also held a meeting with officials at the IACCC under the NCA.

Director Kim listened to cases where investigative agencies from various countries shared investigation information centered on the IACCC and achieved results, and exchanged opinions on joint international responses to combat corruption crimes.

At the meeting, Director Kim stated, "For the global fight against corruption crimes, close exchange of criminal information is of utmost importance," adding, "The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency will continue to accumulate capabilities and experience and actively cooperate with foreign investigative agencies to eradicate global corruption crimes."

Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (photo right), is holding a memorandum of understanding (MOU) together with Lisa Osofsky, Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in London, UK (photo left), after signing the MOU to enhance mutual cooperation on the afternoon of the 22nd (local time). Photo by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency.

The previous day, Director Kim visited the SFO in London, UK, and signed a memorandum of understanding with SFO Director Lisa Osofsky to eradicate corruption crimes by engaging in ▲sharing experiences between agencies ▲inviting and participating in workshops and seminars on investigation and prosecution ▲mutual visits among agency members ▲exchange of international experiences and information.

This is the first time since the establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency that a memorandum of understanding has been signed with a foreign investigative agency.

During the meeting with Director Osofsky the previous day, Director Kim explained the changes in Korea's criminal justice system, the background and process of establishing the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, and its roles and functions. They also exchanged opinions after hearing about the establishment process of the SFO, which was one of the models for the agency's founding, the cooperation system among UK investigative agencies, the operation status of the criminal justice system, and experiences in investigating anti-corruption crimes such as bribery.

Criminal investigations in the UK are largely divided among three agencies. The police handle general crimes, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) handles complex economic crimes and bribery cases, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) is responsible for organized crime and drug offenses.

In the past, the police in the UK held both investigative and prosecutorial powers, but due to the negative effects of concentrated authority, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was established in the mid-1980s to separate prosecutorial powers from the police.

However, the SFO retains both investigative and prosecutorial powers because of the nature of economic and bribery crime investigations, with prosecutors and investigators cooperating from the start of investigations, according to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency.

Director Kim will conclude his official five-day, three-night visit to the UK and return home on the afternoon of the 25th.

An official from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency stated, "Anti-corruption issues are global topics continuously addressed at multilateral summits such as the G20 and international anti-corruption conferences," adding, "In responding to corruption crimes in the public sector, sharing information and experiences with foreign investigative agencies is as important as domestic efforts, so the agency will continue to pursue building cooperative relationships with foreign investigative agencies."

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