Just nine days after its launch, the nation’s new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) is set to conduct its first internal inspection, targeting a regional office chief who has repeatedly criticised the nominee to lead the agency.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said Sunday he would order an inspection of Im Eun-jeong, head of the agency’s Gwangju regional office, over her continued public criticism of Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the agency’s inaugural chief.
“I seem to be mistaking the SCIA for a political organisation rather than an investigative agency,” Yun wrote on social media.
“Many people are concerned to see an official at an agency established to uphold justice in cases involving public corruption, economic crimes, cybercrime and drug offences preoccupied with finding fault with the nominee to lead it,” he said.
“I am worried that the wrongful practices of the former Prosecution Service, including political interference and collective action, may be carried over into the SCIA,” Yun added.
Yun stressed that the authority to vet Kim rests with the president and the National Assembly, which are responsible for the appointment and confirmation process under the Constitution and law.
“Ensuring that the SCIA does not neglect its duty to maintain discipline over conduct unbecoming of senior public officials or inconsistent with the agency’s mission is also part of the prosecution reform demanded by the sovereign people,” he said.
The inspection directive was based on Article 6 of the law governing the SCIA, which grants the interior minister general authority to direct and supervise the agency’s chief and personnel.
For specific criminal investigations, however, the minister can exercise that authority only through the agency chief.
The dispute comes just nine days after South Korea abolished its 78-year-old Prosecution Service on Oct 2, separating investigative and prosecutorial powers in a sweeping overhaul of its criminal justice system.
Under the new system, the SCIA, placed under the Interior Ministry, investigates major crimes, while the newly established Public Prosecution Service handles indictments. — The Korea Herald/ANN
