'SCIA to Launch with Only 66% Staff, No Director Appointed... Jeon Jongmin Named Deputy Director (Update)'

Announcement by the Launch Preparation Team One Day Before Opening
Seven Senior Officials, Including Deputy Director and Six Regional Heads, Designated
Plan for Experienced Recruitment of External Experts
Budget of 472.4 Billion Won for Nex

As the appointment of the Director of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) is delayed one day ahead of its official launch, Jeon Jongmin, a lawyer at KnC Law Firm and former judge, has been nominated as the Deputy Director. The SCIA plans to begin its work with only 1,900 employees, which is 66% of its total personnel quota.

On October 1, the Administrative Readiness Task Force for the SCIA under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced, "We are putting all our efforts into the final preparations to ensure a smooth launch of the SCIA." The task force stated its intention to have essential foundations, including personnel, office space, and information systems, in place by the time the agency opens, to facilitate a seamless transition to the new criminal justice system.

On the 1st, one day before the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the agency's signboard was installed at Renestquare in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the headquarters and Seoul office will be located. October 1, 2026. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

At the initial stage, the SCIA will start with 1,900 employees, representing 66.1% of the total personnel quota of 2,874. Appointments have also been made for the Deputy Director position and seven Grade 1 investigators, including the heads of the six regional SCIA branches.

The appointed individuals are as follows: ▲ Deputy Director: Jeon Jongmin (lawyer at KnC Law Firm) ▲ Head of Seoul Regional SCIA: Choi Jae-min (lawyer at Choi Jae-min Law Office) ▲ Head of Suwon Regional SCIA: Kim Hyeong-geun (lawyer at Kim Hyeong-geun & Lim Jong-Pil Law Office) ▲ Head of Daejeon Regional SCIA: Moon Hongju (lawyer at Ilsun Law Firm) ▲ Head of Daegu Regional SCIA: Hong Jonghee (auditor at Korean Bar Association Legal Aid Foundation) ▲ Head of Busan Regional SCIA: Kim Kiuk (lawyer at Jeongnyul Law Firm) ▲ Head of Gwangju Regional SCIA: Im Eun-jeong (Chief Prosecutor at Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office).

Attorney Jeon, the nominee for Deputy Director (24th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), graduated from Seoul National University School of Law and served as a judge at Chuncheon District Court, Uijeongbu District Court, and Seoul Administrative Court, retiring in 2006. In 2016, he represented the National Assembly as counsel in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye.

The task force stated, "These individuals were selected through career recruitment and special appointments, taking into account the experience and expertise required for their respective positions. They are scheduled to be officially appointed on the day of the agency's launch after completing the necessary procedures."

Jeon Jongmin, attorney at law at KnC Law Firm, appointed as Deputy Director of the Middle Water Agency.

For unfilled positions, the agency plans to gradually proceed with career recruitment targeting external experts such as police officers, lawyers, and accountants. To facilitate this, a joint task force involving the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the SCIA, and other relevant agencies will be formed to oversee the recruitment process. In the future, additional special appointments for personnel of the Prosecution Service will also be considered in view of staff management needs.

Preparations for the office facilities are also accelerating in time for the opening. At launch, the SCIA will prioritize securing essential workspaces and internal and internet networks required for public service, investigations, and administrative operations. Basic equipment such as PCs, office telephones, and investigation vehicles will be pre-deployed according to the staffing structure of each regional branch, and the remaining office environment construction is expected to be completed within the year.

Detention facilities for suspects arrested for serious crimes have also been designated. Following discussions with the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Justice, detention centers and correctional facilities near each regional branch will be used as holding facilities. The designation process has been completed at all regional branches, including Seoul, Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, and Gwangju.

The Korea Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) will have its core functionalities—case referral, receipt, and allocation—go live on the SCIA's opening day, while case processing functions are planned to be launched in a second phase in early December.

Detention Centers and Jails Near the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency Building (Provisional). Provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

The government has allocated a total budget of 472.4 billion won for next year's serious crime investigation efforts and has submitted the proposal to the National Assembly. Operational expenses for the fourth quarter of this year will be transferred from the Prosecution Service and utilized accordingly.

The opening ceremony for the SCIA will take place at 10 a.m. on October 2 at the agency's main office, with 120 attendees including Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung; Kim Young-jin, Chair of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee; Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee; Noh Kyung-pil, Chief Justice of the Court Administration Office; and Oh Dong-un, Head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

Kim Minjae, head of the preparation task force, stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the SCIA establishes itself as a specialized agency that investigates fairly and effectively in accordance with the law and principles."

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