Serious Crime Investigation Office Leads Investigations... Public Prosecution Office Handles Compulsory Measures and Indictments

Abolition of Prosecutor’s Office After 78 Years

Leadership Lines Drawn: Ministry of the Interior & Ministry of Justice
Both Agencies Launch Without Official Chiefs
Serious Crime Investigation Office: Direct Investigations and Case Allocation
Staffing and Facilities Still Being Built Up
Public Prosecution Office: Reviewing Case Records and Evidence
Prosecutors Cannot Investigate Even If Evidence Is Lacking
Stricter Review Begins at the Warrant Request Stage

The Prosecutor’s Office, which had been in operation since its establishment in 1948, was abolished as of October 2, 2026, after 78 years. Investigations into power-related and corporate corruption, previously handled by the Prosecutor’s Office, have now been transferred to the Serious Crime Investigation Office (Jungsoocheong), which is under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Decisions related to applying for warrants or indicting suspects are now the responsibility of prosecutors at the Public Prosecution Office, affiliated with the Ministry of Justice. The authority to secure and lead cases and the power to connect those investigations to compulsory measures and prosecution have now been separated. The Minister of the Interior and Safety and the Minister of Justice each stand at the head of these two authorities, respectively.

The plaque unveiling ceremony is taking place in front of the lobby of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 2nd, when the agency's opening ceremony was held. October 2, 2026 Photo by Jo Yongjun

On the morning of October 2, 2026, the Serious Crime Investigation Office and the Public Prosecution Office each held their inauguration ceremonies at Rene Square in Jung-gu and the former Supreme Prosecutors’ Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, respectively. The ceremony at the Serious Crime Investigation Office was attended by Yoon Hojoong, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, among others. The Public Prosecution Office held its event privately, attended by internal officials including Acting Chief Prosecutor Lee Junghyun (legally titled as Prosecutor General). Both organizations commenced operations without officially appointed heads. The Public Prosecution Office is currently being led by acting head Lee Junghyun. Although President officially approved the nomination of Kim Jiyong as chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Office the previous day, the National Assembly has not yet completed the confirmation hearing process.

Jeon Jongmin, Deputy Chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Office, declared at the inauguration ceremony, "The launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Office is the solemn command of the people," promising, "We will reflect on past mistakes and ensure that the same wrongdoings are not repeated under a new name." He also emphasized, "We will take a resolute stance against serious crimes but remain extremely prudent in matters relating to the public’s freedom and rights." Minister Yoon requested, "I hope the office will become an investigative agency that unwaveringly adheres only to the law and principles, regardless of power or position, and serves the people above all."

Serious Crime Investigation Office with the Power to Command Cases

The Serious Crime Investigation Office will oversee seven major crime categories: corruption, economic crimes, defense industry crimes, drug offenses, national protection crimes, cybercrimes, and crimes involving distortion of the law. Within areas such as voice phishing, financial securities, digital assets, drug offenses, and national finance, the agency will operate five joint investigation task forces. By taking over the Prosecutor’s Office’s specialized investigative functions and handling everything from public livelihood crimes to crimes against national protection, the scope of investigations overseen by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has expanded significantly.

The Serious Crime Investigation Office has not only the authority to conduct direct investigations but also the power to allocate cases. If an investigation overlaps with another agency, it may request a transfer based on factors such as the stage and fairness of the investigation. Unless there are legitimate reasons, the agency asked to transfer must comply. This means the office’s determination could change which agency takes responsibility for a case. However, in the case of investigations handled by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the chief prosecutor of that office will make the decision.

While the agency’s authority took effect immediately upon launch, its workforce and facilities are still being built up. The Serious Crime Investigation Office is commencing operations with approximately 1,900 employees, which is 66.1% of the authorized headcount of 2,874. Among the 2,376 who applied for the special recruitment program, 615 withdrew their applications. The IT system is currently only running essential functions such as case registration and assignment; the remaining case processing features will go online in early December. Office renovations are scheduled to be completed within the year.

It is expected that there will be delays before investigations into existing cases can begin. This is because the records must be transferred, checked for omissions, and reassigned. Attorney Kwon Naegeon (from Trinity Law Firm) explained, "Because a large volume of records will need to be transferred from other agencies, it may take at least two to three months simply to check and assign the documents."

On October 2, 2026, following the prosecutorial reform by the Lee Jae-myung administration, the Prosecutor's Office, which held both investigation and prosecution powers, closed after 78 years, and the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency officially launched. Employees are seen arriving at the Public Prosecutor's Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Review and Consultation... Changed Role of Prosecutors

The Public Prosecution Office has been established with a main office, six regional public prosecution branches, 18 district public prosecution offices, and 42 local branches. The total authorized workforce is 8,182, composed of 2,292 prosecutors and 5,890 administrative staff. The previous 42 National Intelligence and Joint Investigation Units have been abolished and restructured into 29 Serious Crime Indictment Units. Trial divisions have also been reorganized as trial/litigation or trial/recovery divisions, with the number of prosecutors adjusted accordingly. Whereas prosecutors previously obtained evidence directly, they will now review evidence provided by investigative agencies and prepare to present cases in court.

Prosecutors’ review of investigative records is expected to become more rigorous, beginning at the warrant application stage. Previously, the Public Prosecution Office established standards for pre-application interviews and fact-checking procedures before requesting detention warrants. The intention is to review case materials along with explanations from suspects and defense counsel before deciding whether to apply for a warrant. With the end of direct investigations, the judicial oversight role of prosecutors in reviewing investigative agency requests is expected to become even more critical.

If a prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Office determines it is difficult to indict a suspect based solely on the evidence submitted by investigative agencies, they are not permitted to conduct their own investigation. Instead, they can hear opinions or receive additional materials from involved parties, experts, or judicial police officers to confirm the facts, but if more evidence is required, prosecutors must request supplementary investigations from the relevant agency. With direct investigations no longer allowed, such requests are expected to become more specific and detailed. One senior prosecutor in the Seoul Metropolitan Area noted, "We may see more cases where investigative agencies consult with prosecutors in advance about investigation direction or what aspects need further verification before sending over a case."

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