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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

South Korea offers prosecutors incentives to join new major crimes agency

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety unveiled plans for a new agency to handle major crimes, offering incentives for prosecutors to join.
  • The proposed agency, the Major Crimes Investigation Agency (MCIA), aims to recruit prosecutors with special investigative experience, offering benefits like guaranteed salary and status.
  • However, many prosecutors are hesitant due to concerns about the agency's future, its relocation from the prosecution service, and the loss of their professional title.

South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Safety has revealed its blueprint for a new Major Crimes Investigation Agency (MCIA), tasked with exclusively investigating seven major crime categories. The ministry is offering significant incentives to attract prosecutors, recognizing that the agency's success hinges on recruiting those with specialized investigative skills.

The MCIA's success hinges on recruiting those with specialized investigative skills.

— Ministry of Interior and SafetyExplaining the rationale behind offering incentives to prosecutors.

The MCIA, slated to launch on October 2nd with 2,874 personnel, will focus on corruption, economic crimes, defense procurement, narcotics, national security, cybercrime, and crimes distorting justice. The ministry's recruitment strategy includes allowing prosecutors to transfer to MCIA investigator roles without separate examinations by April 30 next year. They will also receive temporary preferential treatment, including guaranteed salaries equivalent to their previous prosecutor positions.

While deputy prosecutors general will be appointed as Grade 1 officials and division heads as Grade 2, the proposed treatment for ordinary prosecutors with over 10 years of experience is Grade 3, and those with less than 10 years will be Grade 4. The ministry plans to hold information sessions at 18 regional prosecutors' offices nationwide from August 5th to 12th to promote the new agency.

What about the aftermath? I am truly worried these days. What is happening to our judicial system?

— Chung Sung-hoExpressing his deep concerns about the recent amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act.

Despite these enticements, the response from prosecutors has been lukewarm. Many express anxiety about the MCIA's uncertain future, fearing it could be abolished by a future administration. The shift in affiliation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, and the prospect of abandoning the title 'prosecutor' for 'investigator,' are also significant deterrents. "Prosecutors with extensive experience are particularly attached to the title 'prosecutor.' Not many would want to move to the MCIA and become an investigator," one division head noted.

I am truly worried. How will they handle the consequences? Many problems will arise during operation.

— Chung Sung-hoWarning about the potential future problems resulting from the amendment.

Conversely, some veteran prosecutors nearing retirement are considering the MCIA for a short stint, hoping the 'former MCIA official' experience will aid their private legal careers. Meanwhile, current investigative officers within the prosecution service show more interest, especially after the recent abolition of their supplementary investigation rights, making the MCIA a potentially more appealing option. The ministry plans to fill any remaining vacancies through competitive recruitment exams.

Even judges will have to investigate while presiding over cases.

— Chung Sung-hoIllustrating the potential impact of the amendment on judicial roles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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