First Audit Since Prosecution Office Launch... "Hearing Views in Appeals, Doing All We Can to Resolve Disputes"

Picking up pace on core duties, including maintaining prosecutions
Joint investigation units handling direct investigations
Reorganized under the SCIA
Ruling and opposition parties expected to clash over dropping indictments in cases involving Le

The newly launched Public Prosecution Office, established after the Prosecutors' Office was abolished and investigations were separated from indictments, is stepping up its core work, including handling appeals and maintaining prosecutions. The former prosecutors' joint investigation units for financial, securities and virtual asset crimes have been reorganized under the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), while the Public Prosecution Office is strengthening its work on hearing from people involved in cases and protecting victims.

Jeong Yonghwan, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Prosecutors' Office, speaks during a parliamentary audit of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and other agencies at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 19th. Yonhap News Agency

Jeong Yonghwan, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Prosecutors' Office, reported on these key areas of work during a parliamentary audit of prosecution offices in the capital region by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on October 19. It was the first parliamentary audit since the Prosecutors' Office was abolished and the Public Prosecution Office was launched on October 2. The audit covered 11 agencies: the Seoul and Suwon Metropolitan Public Prosecution Offices, as well as the Seoul Central, Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western District Public Prosecution Offices and the Uijeongbu, Incheon, Chuncheon and Suwon District Public Prosecution Offices.

Jeong said, "Before handling appeals, we hear from appellants and other people involved in the cases, and work to resolve disputes by making use of conflict-resolution programs." An appeal is a procedure for asking a higher authority to review a decision, such as a prosecutor's decision not to indict. The Public Prosecution Office plans to listen carefully to people involved in cases and handle each case thoroughly.

The joint investigation units that had handled the former Prosecutors' Office's direct investigations have also been reorganized. Jeong reported that "the Seoul Southern District Public Prosecution Office's Joint Investigation Division for Financial and Securities Crimes and Joint Investigation Division for Virtual Asset Crimes were reorganized under the SCIA after the Public Prosecution Office was launched." He added, "We plan to work with relevant agencies to respond to financial, securities and virtual asset crimes."

These agencies have achieved results in investigating financial crimes. From its launch in May 2023 through September 2026, the Joint Investigation Division for Financial and Securities Crimes detained 54 people suspected of disrupting order in the capital market and indicted 691. It secured provisional seizure orders against approximately 3.8 trillion won in criminal proceeds. The Joint Investigation Division for Virtual Asset Crimes, launched in July of the same year, detained 33 people and indicted 206, and secured provisional seizure orders against approximately 71.4 billion won in criminal proceeds.

Key achievements by other district public prosecution offices were also presented. From its launch in July 2022 through May 2026, the Seoul Eastern District Public Prosecution Office's Joint Investigation Division for Voice Phishing Crimes booked 1,381 people as suspects and detained 526. From September 2022 through August 2026, the Seoul Northern District Public Prosecution Office's Joint Investigation Team for National Finance Crimes booked 164 people suspected of financial misconduct and established that the losses amounted to approximately 137.3 billion won.

At the audit, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to clash over controversy surrounding the withdrawal of indictments in cases involving President Lee Jae-myung, as well as allegations of illegality in the prosecution's investigations and indictment process. Other key issues expected to be discussed include how to handle existing cases following the launch of the Public Prosecution Office, a shortage of prosecutors, the division of responsibilities with the SCIA, and measures to oversee police investigations.

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