Korea renames prosecution offices in youth protection rules as new investigative bodies launch

South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family amended three of its enforcement rules to replace references to the prosecution service with the names of the new prosecution office and serious crimes investigation bureau.

The revision swaps "Supreme Prosecutors' Office, high prosecutors' offices and district prosecutors' offices" for "prosecution office, regional prosecution offices and district prosecution offices, and the serious crimes investigation bureau and its regional offices" in Appendix 1, Item 3 and Appendix 2, Item 2. The change follows the enactment of the Prosecution Office Act and the Act on the Organization and Operation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Bureau on March 24, and the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act on Aug. 4, all taking effect Oct. 2. The ministry said the three amended enforcement rules are meant to align related laws with the launch of the new bodies.

The two bodies split investigation from indictment. The Prosecution Office Act places the prosecution office under the justice minister, while the Act on the Organization and Operation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Bureau puts the investigative agency under the interior minister, establishing a system in which the investigation and indictment agencies can check each other.

"The government will continue to cooperate closely with relevant agencies to support the launch and establishment of the investigative bureau," said Kim Min-jae, a vice interior minister who heads the preparatory team for the investigative bureau. "We will do our best so that it investigates fairly and effectively in accordance with law and principle, and establishes itself as a capable and trusted professional investigative agency that protects people's lives."

The new bureau is launching with 1,900 staff, or 66.1 percent of its total authorized headcount of 2,874, according to provisional figures. Seven senior investigators at the first-grade level have been nominated, including a deputy chief and the heads of six regional investigative offices.