Over 2,300 apply for special transfers to South Korea's new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency

A significant number of prosecutors and investigators are seeking to transfer to South Korea's new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), which is scheduled to launch on October 2. A total of 2,375 individuals from the Prosecutor's Office, including prosecutors and investigators, applied for special transfers to the SCIA.

This figure represents 82.6% of the SCIA's total planned staffing of 2,874 positions. Among the applicants, around 100 are prosecutors. Notably, many of these prosecutor applicants are in mid-to-senior level positions, such as those from the 36th-37th Judicial Research and Training Institute classes (equivalent to deputy chief prosecutor level) and those with over 10 years of experience who would not face a rank demotion.

Prominent figures like Im Eun-jeong, a prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, and Moon Ji-seok, a prosecutor from the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office who raised allegations of a "Coupang investigation cover-up," have also applied. The high application rate is seen by the SCIA's opening preparation team as a positive sign, reflecting a voluntary choice by personnel to move to the new agency, especially given that the exact number of positions to be reduced from the Prosecutor's Office has not yet been finalized.

The preparation team will review the applications, considering factors such as desired work location, career experience, and expertise. The final selection of candidates for special appointment is expected in October, with official appointments taking effect on the SCIA's launch date.