South Korea's new serious-crime agency chief orders team to tackle setup shortfalls
In short
Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the first head of South Korea's serious-crime investigation agency (중대범죄수사청), ordered a task force to organize staffing, facilities and systems on his first working day, October 16. Reports said the agency had begun operating with 1,900 staff against an authorized complement of 2,874.
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Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the first head of South Korea's serious-crime investigation agency (중대범죄수사청), ordered the rapid formation of a task force on October 16 to organize personnel, facilities and systems. The agency said he issued the instruction after receiving departmental briefings on his first working day. He also called for work to proceed quickly toward visible results, including the launch of investigations, according to Korean outlets. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 12 ]
President Lee Jae-myung approved Kim's appointment on October 15, the reports said. The agency had begun operating on October 2 without a permanent chief. Kim reported for work at its headquarters in Seoul's Jung district. The task force is intended to help the new organization become established. Chosun Ilbo quoted an agency official as saying its formal name, structure and plans would be announced once settled. A later Newsis summary reported that a team headed by the agency's deputy chief had been formed under Kim's instruction. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 14 ]
Reports describe staffing and operational shortfalls. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo said the agency launched with 1,900 employees, or 66.1% of its authorized 2,874 positions. Hankook Ilbo reported that office construction remained underway on floors nine through 17 of the building housing headquarters and the Seoul office. It said investigators were using temporary departmental spaces on six floors while awaiting relocation. The newspaper also reported plans for additional recruitment, including police officers, lawyers and accountants. [ 6 , 12 ]
The criminal justice information system can handle functions including case intake, assignment and receipt of transferred cases, but additional processing functions are scheduled for December, the reports said. Some work must therefore use paper records. Kim also instructed staff to establish political neutrality and investigative independence and to organize the agency so that protection for vulnerable people and crime victims would not be interrupted. [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 12 ]
Why it matters
The agency's computer system still lacks some case-processing functions, and office construction and recruitment remain incomplete. Kim called for political neutrality, investigative independence and protection for vulnerable people and crime victims.
Key facts
- Kim issued the task-force instruction after receiving departmental briefings on October 16. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 12 ]
- The agency began operating on October 2, before its first chief was appointed. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 14 ]
- The agency started with 1,900 of its 2,874 authorized staff positions filled, reports said. [ 6 , 12 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The task force's finalized name and organizational arrangements. Chosun Ilbo quoted an official saying details would be announced once finalized; a later Newsis summary said the team had been formed under the deputy chief.