Corruption Investigation Office: "Kwon Ik-wi's Attempt at In-Person Investigation Inappropriate... Overstepping Authority"

"Sending Employees Unilaterally Without Consultation Exceeds Authority"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) has expressed opposition, calling it an overreach that the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced it would conduct an in-person investigation regarding the ACRC’s discussion of the appointment of the next HCIA chief through text messages between Director Kim Jin-wook and Deputy Director Yeo Woon-guk.

Officials from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission heading to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 28th, the HCIA issued a statement saying, “It is regrettable and inappropriate to unilaterally send staff to the HCIA to attempt an interview investigation with the director and deputy director while consultations with the ACRC were ongoing, considering the consultation process so far and the relationships between state agencies.”

The HCIA views the ACRC’s request, made in mid-month, for the HCIA to choose between an interview or written Q&A with the director and deputy director and to cooperate accordingly as excessive, noting that although there is no legal obligation to cooperate, the HCIA had notified that it would cooperate by responding to written questions.

Furthermore, the HCIA stated that the ACRC’s claim that the interview investigation is a lawful act as stipulated by law is not true. An HCIA official explained, “Under current law, the ACRC may only grant the reported party the opportunity to present opinions or submit materials, and does not have the authority to forcibly investigate without consent, nor is there any regulation that the investigation method must be an in-person interview.”

They added, “The ACRC’s unilateral dispatch of staff to the independent investigative agency HCIA without consultation, while publicly portraying through the media as if it has investigative authority and that the HCIA director and deputy director must undergo an interview investigation, exceeds its authority.”

Previously, on the 10th of last month, Director Kim and Deputy Director Yeo were caught by reporters exchanging text messages related to the appointment of the next director during a Budget and Accounts Special Committee meeting at the National Assembly, sparking controversy. The ACRC received a report that the text messaging between Director Kim and Deputy Director Yeo constituted corrupt behavior and recently launched an investigation.

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