South Korea abolishes prosecution service without appointed leaders — Korea Herald

On Friday, South Korea will abolish the prosecution service that had operated for 78 years, but the two bodies set to take over its powers still have no appointed heads. This was reported by Korea Herald.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office will apply for court warrants, decide on indictments and represent cases in court. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency will handle, among other matters, corruption and economic offenses. Police will continue to conduct other criminal investigations.

Prosecutors will no longer have the right to independently conduct criminal or supplementary investigations, but will be able to require other bodies to carry out additional investigative actions. President Lee Jae-myung called the separation of investigative and prosecutorial functions a key part of the reform aimed at preventing politically motivated investigations and indictments.

Heads of the new bodies have not yet been appointed

The selection procedure for the first head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has not yet begun. The position of justice minister is also vacant: candidate Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on September 19 after allegations, including improper lobbying concerning a COVID-19 drug trial. He denied the allegations.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Lawyer Kim Ji-young was nominated to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, but his appointment still requires further review. The ruling bloc has also raised objections to his track record and views on prosecution reform.

Staffing problems

The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency has 2,874 staff positions. After two rounds of special recruitment, 1,962 prosecutors and other prosecution employees remained as candidates for the positions, and their appointments have not yet been confirmed. During the first round, 615 people withdrew their applications.

The agency plans to select employees by the end of September and additionally recruit personnel from outside the prosecution system. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office is expected to begin operating with about 1,900 prosecutors, fewer than the legally established limit of 2,292 positions. The Justice Ministry plans not to fill vacancies after prosecutors are transferred or leave, and to later assess staffing needs.