Unclear Structure and Personnel Decisions Cause 'Complete Chaos' in Prosecution as Prosecutorial and Serious Crime Agencies Prepare to Launch in Two Weeks

Organizational Structure and Staffing Revisions at the Prosecutorial Agency
Future Assignments of Prosecutors and Investigators in Flux
Senior Officials: "Positions and Retirement Now a Key Consideration"
Atmosphere among Junior and Mid-Level Prosecutors Remains Distinct
Executive Appointments Unavoidable, but Timing and Scale Remain Unclear

With only about two weeks remaining until the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Prosecutorial Agency, internal turmoil within the prosecution service is intensifying. The previously outlined organizational plan for the Prosecutorial Agency has been thrown back into revision due to objections from the ruling bloc and President Lee Jaemyung’s instructions to amend it. This has once again unsettled the status and future assignments of prosecutors and investigators. As uncertainty lingers over the agency's structure and subsequent personnel appointments, many within the prosecution are expressing concerns about "complete chaos."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Deliberation Committee recommended that the prosecution indict Pastor Choi Jaeyoung for violating the Anti-Graft Law for giving luxury bags and other items to First Lady Kim Keonhee. The photo shows the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

According to the legal community on the 17th, the preparatory group for the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been accepting applications for the second round of special appointments from September 15, targeting prosecutors and Grade 7 or higher officials in the prosecution and narcotics investigation divisions. Applications will be accepted until the 20th. This time, there will be no withdrawal period; candidates will be selected by the end of the month, and appointments will proceed in phases starting from October 2.

In the first round of special appointments, 2,375 people applied, but 615 of them withdrew their applications during the withdrawal period. At that time, internal discussions of the Prosecutorial Agency's organizational plan led to the perception that the reduction in the organization and personnel would not be as drastic as anticipated, which influenced many in their decisions regarding their positions.

However, the situation shifted again on September 4, when the Ministry of Justice publicly disclosed its latest organizational framework. The initial proposal was to maintain the number of prosecutors at 2,292 and to establish a "Judicial Oversight Department" to review police cases that are not referred for prosecution. The number of general staff positions was to be reduced from 8,414 to 6,120. There was criticism from the pro-ruling bloc camp, claiming this represented a rollback of prosecution reform, and President Lee ordered revisions and improvements. Consequently, the number of prosecutors and certain structural elements are now under renewed scrutiny, unsettling the preparatory work that had proceeded based on the previous plan. The Ministry of Justice is now leaning toward reducing the number of investigators and clerical staff in investigative divisions by about half.

Prosecutorial Agency Organizational Revisions Deepen Internal Prosecution Turmoil

Within the prosecution, there is a growing sense that neither the Prosecutorial Agency nor the Serious Crime Investigation Agency can guarantee future positions or organizational stability. This is particularly the case for senior prosecutors whose current posts may be abolished or consolidated; for many, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is now appearing as a renewed option. One senior prosecutor commented, "I don't even know if I can continue as a prosecutor for a few more years, and given the humiliation of spending those years in this way, I'm starting to consider other options. I’ve also noticed colleagues newly contemplating applying to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency."

By contrast, the mood is somewhat different among junior prosecutors and those at mid-levels. Most of the prosecutors clearly willing to move to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency made their decisions during the first round of recruitment. There is a view that even if the organizational plan for the Prosecutorial Agency changes somewhat, the impact on junior and mid-level prosecutors will not extend much beyond typical departmental transfers. One current prosecutor remarked, "Senior prosecutors need to consider not only their next post but also when they might retire, so some may be rethinking their moves, but for junior prosecutors, there's little incentive to make a move, so there’s not much reason for them to apply in the second recruitment round."

For investigative officers, the variables are opportunities for promotion and choice of post. If the size of the Prosecutorial Agency’s personnel is revised again, there is a possibility that some investigative officers who withdrew their applications in the first round may now choose to join the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. An official within the prosecution said, "For investigative officers, the key issue is not which agency is better, but rather which agency offers faster promotion opportunities, even if only by a slight margin."

Personnel Appointments and Leadership Selection Still Pending... Leadership Vacuums Loom Ahead of Launch

This internal unrest is also intertwined with the appointments of Prosecutorial Agency executives. With departmental consolidations and new posts being established after the organizational reform on October 2, there is a pressing need for personnel decisions, but there has yet to be any clear sign of when and to what extent these will occur. Preliminary procedures for vetting personnel—standard ahead of major promotions—are also reportedly not yet underway. Some believe that rather than a large-scale personnel shakeup, only minor appointments may take place, focusing mainly on consolidated departments and vacancies. Since definite personnel assignments and staffing can only be decided once the organizational structure is finalized, any prolongation of structural revisions will necessarily lead to last-minute preparations for subsequent appointments.

Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Head of the Preparatory Task Force for the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, is entering the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 17 to hold a briefing regarding the first candidate for the head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. During the briefing, Vice Minister Kim addressed controversies surrounding candidate Kim Jiyong raised by the media and the National Assembly, including the Kim Hak-eui travel ban case, prosecutor Jeong Jinwoong's abuse of authority case, opposition to the criminal procedure reforms, and opposition to the disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol. He emphasized that he would not take the public's concerns lightly. Photo by Yongjun Cho, 2026.9.17

The appointment of the head of the Prosecutorial Agency also remains unresolved. Considering the remaining steps—recommendation of candidates, nomination, and confirmation hearings—it is physically unlikely that the head will be appointed before the agency’s official opening, making it likely the agency will initially be run by an acting chief. At the Serious Crime Investigation Agency as well, additional vetting of its first chief candidate, Kim Jiyong, is ongoing, leaving both agencies without fully formed leadership teams.

As a result, there are concerns that preparations on practical matters—resolving long-standing unsolved cases, and managing the transfer of cases among the police, Prosecutorial Agency, and Serious Crime Investigation Agency—may be impeded. One deputy chief prosecutor commented, "The organizational framework is not set, and we have no idea what the personnel decisions will be, yet we are already buried in urgent matters such as handling cold cases and transferring cases. There is widespread concern that confusion on the ground will be inevitable after launch, possibly for quite some time."

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