"Head of Serious Crime Investigation Agency Requires Recommendation and Hearing"…Enforcement Decree Draft Announced

Draft Enforcement Decree of the SCIA Act to Be Released on June 22
Includes Provisions on Exclusions from Notification and Investigation Review
Open for Public Comments

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it will conduct a legislative notice of the draft Enforcement Decree for the Act on the Organization and Operation of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA Act) from June 22 to July 6.

The draft enforcement decree stipulates specific operational standards for the agency, excluding matters concerning organization and personnel, as delegated by the SCIA Act.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety. June 16, 2026. Photo by Jo Yongjun

First, the head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency will be appointed by the President from among the candidates recommended by a Candidate Recommendation Committee consisting of nine members, upon the proposal of the Minister of the Interior and Safety and after a National Assembly personnel hearing.

Members of the Candidate Recommendation Committee will present their nominees, and a candidate for the head of the agency will be selected with the approval of at least two-thirds of the total members.

If another investigative agency becomes aware of a serious crime during its investigation, it must notify the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. However, notification is not required in cases where: ▲ the complaint or accusation is unclear; ▲ there has already been a complaint or accusation for the same crime; or ▲ it is clear that there is no right of prosecution.

If a preliminary investigation or investigation conducted by the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is deemed to lack propriety or legality, parties involved in the case—such as complainants, victims, or suspects—may request a review of the investigation within 90 days from the date they are notified of the result.

The head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency must respect the outcome of the Investigation Review Committee to the fullest extent possible and must notify the committee of the result and the reasons for the decision.

If financial losses occur due to the lawful execution of duties by investigators, compensation will be provided based on repair costs, replacement value, business losses, and similar factors. For losses related to life or physical injury, compensation criteria will be applied in accordance with the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Honorable Treatment and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, etc.

When it is necessary to transfer personal information overseas for international cooperation in crime response or investigation, or for the protection of the lives, bodies, or property of citizens, the transfer is restricted to institutions that have appropriate security measures and only within the minimum necessary scope, based on the principle of reciprocity.

In addition, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to quickly establish the agency’s organizational regulations and investigator appointment regulations to further specify the details related to organization and personnel. The draft enforcement decree will be available on the ministry’s website or the National Gazette starting June 22. Any member of the public can submit opinions by regular mail or email.

Yun Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, stated, "The government is focusing all of its capabilities on ensuring the successful launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency on October 2," adding, "We will thoroughly prepare the enforcement decree, organizational regulations, and investigator appointment regulations to enhance the agency’s capabilities in serious crime investigation and do our utmost to ensure the agency earns the trust of the public."

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