(LEAD) S. Korea launches scaled-down prosecution, new investigation agency in major reform

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SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea launched a prosecution service only tasked with indicting and a new investigation agency Friday in a major reform to the criminal justice system.

The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) and the restructured Prosecution Service held official launch ceremonies, replacing the existing prosecutors' office after 78 years.

The move comes as part of a major reform to the prosecution, which has faced criticism over wielding excessive authority to conduct both investigations and indictments.

Under the reform, prosecutors will be stripped of their investigative powers and only be tasked with indicting and maintaining indictments against suspects, with police now wielding more authority over criminal investigations.

The prosecution's 42 departments that conducted investigations have been abolished, with their functions being transferred over to the new investigation agency.

The SCIA will be tasked with investigating major crimes in seven categories -- corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisition, drug offenses, crimes against state security, cybercrimes and offenses involving distortion of the law.

The sign for the restructured Prosecution Service (L) and the newly launched Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (Yonhap)

Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung called for close cooperation between the agencies.

"Even if investigations and indictments are separated, the responsibility to the people should not be divided," he said during the SCIA's launch ceremony. "Each agency must faithfully play their roles and establish a thorough cooperation system to prevent gaps in cases from the start to the end."

In a release, the new prosecution service said it would "faithfully" fulfill its role centered on the people.

The reform, however, has faced pushback amid concerns of excessive authority to police and reduced checks on police investigations as prosecutors no longer have the authority to conduct supplementary investigations.

Officials mark the official launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency during a ceremony at the agency's office in central Seoul on Oct. 2, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

The police have faced intense public scrutiny in recent months over allegations of misconduct, including a missing person case on the southern resort island of Jeju that was closed without confirming the safety of the missing woman.

Critics have also raised questions about whether prosecutors can properly pursue indictments against criminal suspects without any investigative powers.

The two agencies were also launched without chiefs at the helm, raising concerns over possible gaps in decision making.

President Lee Jae Myung has requested a parliamentary confirmation hearing for his nominee for the inaugural SCIA chief, Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor.

Kim's nomination has faced opposition from some ruling Democratic Party hardliners, who claimed the nominee had once opposed prosecution reform.

The SCIA is also expected to face workforce shortages, with only about 1,900 employees at launch, about 66 percent of its authorized staffing level of 2,874.

A worker grinds off the prosecution's mark from a manhole at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on Sept. 29, 2026, ahead of the launch of the restructured Prosecution Service on Oct. 2. (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) S. Korea launches scaled-down prosecution, new investigation agency in major reform

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首尔，10 月 2 日（韩联社）——韩国周五启动了一项重大刑事司法改革，成立了专门负责起诉的检察机关和一个新的调查机构。

严重犯罪调查局（SCIA）和重组后的检察机关举行了正式启动仪式，取代了存在了 78 年的原检察机关。

此举是检控部门重大改革的一部分，该部门因滥用权力进行调查和起诉而受到批评。

根据这项改革，检察官将被剥夺调查权，只负责起诉和维持对嫌疑人的起诉书，而警方现在对刑事调查拥有更大的权力。

检察机关下属的 42 个侦查部门已被撤销，其职能已移交给新的侦查机构。

国家情报安全局 (SCIA) 将负责调查七类重大犯罪——腐败、经济犯罪、国防采购、毒品犯罪、危害国家安全犯罪、网络犯罪和歪曲法律的犯罪。

重组后的检察机关（左）和新成立的重案调查厅的标志（韩联社）

内政部长尹浩中呼吁各部门密切合作。

“即使调查和起诉分开进行，对人民的责任也不能分开，”他在最高刑事调查局成立仪式上说。“每个机构都必须忠实地履行各自的职责，建立完善的合作机制，防止案件从始至终出现漏洞。”

新成立的检察机关在一份声明中表示，它将“忠实地”履行以人民为中心的职责。

然而，由于担心赋予警察过大的权力以及对警察调查的监督力度减弱（因为检察官不再有权进行补充调查），这项改革遭到了抵制。

2026年10月2日，在首尔市中心的重案调查厅办公楼，官员们举行仪式，正式宣布重案调查厅成立。（联社照片）（韩联社）

近几个月来，警方因涉嫌不当行为而面临公众的强烈审视，其中包括济州岛南部度假胜地发生的一起失踪人口案件，该案在未确认失踪女子安全的情况下就被结案。

批评人士还质疑，检察官在没有任何调查权的情况下，是否能够对犯罪嫌疑人提起诉讼。

这两个机构成立之初都没有负责人，这引发了人们对决策过程中可能存在漏洞的担忧。

总统李在明已要求国会对其提名的首任最高情报院院长人选金智勇（前检察官）举行确认听证会。

金的提名遭到了一些执政的民主党强硬派的反对，他们声称这位被提名人曾经反对检察机关改革。

SCIA预计也将面临劳动力短缺问题，在启动时只有约1900名员工，约占其授权员工人数2874人的66%。

2026年9月29日，在首尔南部最高检察厅，一名工人正在打磨井盖上的检察机关标志，为10月2日重组后的检察机关正式启用做准备。（韩联社）

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (完)

总统要求就新调查机构负责人提名人举行确认听证会

新任调查机构负责人提名人表示支持刑事司法系统改革

（第四项立法）内阁批准修订案，取消检察官的调查权

（导语）韩国推出精简版检察机关和新调查机构，重大改革