SCIA, Police Push to Establish 'Special Investigation Headquarters for the Insurrection'... Discuss Staffing and Location

SCIA Director-Level Official and Police Senior Superintendent General Considered for Dispatch

Joint Leadership of the Headquarters Also Under Discussion

Headquarters to Focus on Insurrection Cases, Including Those Transferred from Special Counsel Investigations

South Korea's Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) and the police are working to establish a "Special Investigation Headquarters for the Insurrection" to investigate cases related to the December 3 emergency martial law.

On the 16th, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency began operating at full capacity, just two weeks after opening. President Lee Jaemyung approved the appointment of Kim Jiyong as the agency’s inaugural chief on the 15th. No longer a nominee, Chief Kim made his first appearance at work on the 16th, avoiding reporters. 2026.10.16 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

According to legal sources on November 5, the SCIA and the police are discussing staffing and the location for setting up the special investigation headquarters.

The SCIA is considering dispatching a regional agency director-level official with a prosecutorial background to the headquarters. The police are expected to dispatch Senior Superintendent General Kang Ilgu, who has led a dedicated investigation team handling remaining cases since the dissolution of the "National Police Agency Special Investigation Headquarters for Cases Transferred from the Three Special Counsel Investigations."

The head of the special investigation headquarters has not yet been decided. One option under discussion is for the SCIA official and Senior Superintendent General Kang to serve as co-heads. Given that construction work is underway inside the SCIA headquarters, police facilities or a separate location are reportedly being considered for the special investigation headquarters.

The special investigation headquarters is expected to investigate cases related to the insurrection in general, including remaining cases transferred from the three special counsel investigations and the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel.

The establishment of the Special Investigation Headquarters for the Insurrection was formally proposed last August, when Kwon Changyoung, head of the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel, announced the investigation's findings. At the time, Special Counsel Kwon said there was a need to continue investigations related to the insurrection over the long term and in a systematic manner through a permanent joint investigation body involving multiple investigative agencies.

Discussions between the SCIA and the police have continued since it became known that President Lee Jae-myung was considering establishing the special investigation headquarters.

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