Interior ministry fills 1,900 posts as new serious-crime agency opens Oct. 2

The interior ministry said Thursday that South Korea's new Serious Crime Investigation Agency will open on Friday with 1,900 of its 2,874 authorized posts filled.

Seven senior investigators have been nominated to lead the agency, including a deputy chief and six regional office heads. The deputy chief-designate is Jeon Jong-min, a lawyer at the firm KnC, and Lim Eun-jung, a senior prosecutor at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, is in line to head the Gwangju office. The other nominees are Choi Jae-min for Seoul, Kim Hyeong-geun for Suwon, Moon Hong-ju for Daejeon, Hong Jong-hee for Daegu and Kim Ki-wook for Busan.

The opening ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the agency's headquarters, with about 120 people attending, including Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung, National Assembly public administration committee chairman Kim Young-jin, legislation and judiciary committee chairman Seo Young-kyo, court administration chief Noh Kyung-pil and Corruption Investigation Office chief Oh Dong-woon.

The remaining vacancies will be filled step by step through experienced-hire recruitment of outside specialists such as police officers, lawyers and accountants. The interior ministry and the agency have formed a joint task force for the hiring, and the government is also reviewing special appointments to bring in staff from the prosecution service, which are possible until April 30, 2027.

The government has submitted a 2027 budget request of 472 billion won ($347 million) for the agency's work, comprising 230 billion won ($169 million) for personnel, 217 billion won ($160 million) for programs and 25.2 billion won ($18.5 million) for basic operating costs. This year's fourth-quarter operating budget will be transferred from the prosecution service.

"The government will continue to work closely with the relevant agencies to support the launch and settlement of the agency," said Kim Min-jae, head of the agency's opening preparation team and a vice interior minister. "We will do our utmost so that it investigates fairly and effectively in accordance with the law and principles and establishes itself as a capable and trusted specialized investigative body that protects people's lives."