Acting deputy director Jeon Jong-min defended figures with ties to ruling bloc; regional chiefs include veterans of Kim Keon Hee special prosecution team; investigative credentials also questioned

Korean National Police Agency Acting Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol and Serious Crime Investigation Agency Acting Director Jeon Jong-min speak at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Korean National Police Agency Acting Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol and Serious Crime Investigation Agency Acting Director Jeon Jong-min speak at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

With the Prosecution Service abolished and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency — known by its Korean acronym Jungsucheong — now up and running, the new body is working to build its organizational structure around its regional branch chiefs. Legal circles and observers inside and outside the agency say the regional directors announced so far are largely seen as aligned with the current ruling camp, having either maintained close ties to ruling-bloc figures or served on special prosecution teams that targeted opposition politicians. Analysts say the agency's political independence and neutrality in handling serious criminal investigations will face an early test.

According to legal sources Sunday, the agency, which launched Friday, has begun assigning recently received complaints and accusations to the relevant investigative units. With Acting Deputy Director Jeon Jong-min leading the central body and regional chiefs now at their posts, the agency is laying the groundwork for full-scale investigations.

While the appointment process for Director-designate Kim Ji-yong remains ongoing, the Ministry of Interior and Safety's agency launch preparatory team announced Thursday the appointments of Jeon as acting deputy director along with six regional chiefs: Choi Jae-min for Seoul, Kim Hyeong-geun for Suwon, Moon Hong-ju for Daejeon, Hong Jong-hee for Daegu, Kim Gi-uk for Busan and Lim Eun-jeong for Gwangju. Of the seven Grade-1 investigators — Jeon and the six regional directors — four are former prosecutors and three are former judges.

Political circles, including opposition parties, and the legal community broadly characterize most of these appointees as aligned with the ruling camp. Jeon has personal ties to figures in the ruling bloc, while some regional chiefs previously served on special prosecution teams that targeted current opposition figures. Gwangju chief Lim Eun-jeong has been classified within prosecutorial circles as having pro-ruling-party leanings since her days as a prosecutor.

Jeon, born in 1967, graduated from Seoul National University's law department and served as a judge at the Chuncheon District Court, Uijeongbu District Court and Seoul Administrative Court before working most recently as an attorney at law firm KnC.

During his time as a lawyer, Jeon represented Cho Guk, the former leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, and Choi Kang-wook, a former Democratic Party lawmaker. He handled Cho's lawsuit seeking to overturn his dismissal from Seoul National University and represented Choi in a Public Official Election Act violation case. In 2020, he was also put forward as a candidate for the inaugural head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on the recommendation of the then-ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

Choi Jae-min, chief of the Seoul branch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, leaves his inauguration ceremony held at the agency's Seoul office in Jung-gu on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
Choi Jae-min, chief of the Seoul branch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, leaves his inauguration ceremony held at the agency's Seoul office in Jung-gu on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

Choi, the inaugural Seoul branch chief, was born in 1971 and graduated from Sungkyunkwan University's law department. He previously served as second deputy chief prosecutor at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, first deputy chief prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutors Office and head of the inspection division at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office. His selection reflects a view that the Seoul branch — which will take over the investigative functions of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, the country's largest and most prominent — required a former prosecutor at its helm.

Kim Hyeong-geun, the inaugural Suwon branch chief, was born in 1969 and graduated from Korea University's law department. He served as a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office and as chief of the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors Office, earning a reputation within the prosecution as a specialist in complex investigations. Last year he served as a special prosecutor's assistant on the Kim Keon Hee special prosecution team led by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki. The Suwon prosecutors office had been designated in 2018 as a hub for technology-leak investigations, and whether the Suwon branch can carry on that work and deliver results will be a key question.

Daejeon branch chief Moon Hong-ju, born in 1968, also served as a special prosecutor's assistant on the Kim Keon Hee special prosecution team last year alongside Kim Hyeong-geun. Moon graduated from Seoul National University's international economics department and worked as a judge, including as a presiding judge at the Suwon Family Court. His background as a judge rather than a prosecutor raises questions about his investigative track record. The Daejeon branch's deputy director is Han Moon-hyeok, a former prosecutor.

Hong Jong-hee, the Daegu branch chief, was born in 1967 and graduated from Seoul National University's law department. He served as second deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors Office and as deputy chief at both the Seoul High Prosecutors Office and the Daegu High Prosecutors Office, and most recently worked as an auditor at the Korean Bar Association Legal Aid Foundation. Hong was promoted to the Seoul High Prosecutors Office deputy chief position — equivalent to a prosecutor-general rank — in 2021 under the Moon Jae-in administration, then demoted to a research post at the Legal Research and Training Institute in 2023 under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration before leaving the prosecution. His husband previously worked at Cheong Wa Dae during the Moon Jae-in administration.

Kim Gi-uk, the inaugural Busan branch chief, was born in 1970 and graduated from Kyung Hee University's law department. He served as a judge at the Gangneung branch of the Chuncheon District Court and at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court. He too is a former special prosecutor's assistant, having served last year on the Coupang Inc.-Gwanbonggwon special prosecution team led by Special Prosecutor Ahn Gwon-seop. The Busan branch's deputy director is Ki No-seong, a former prosecutor previously seconded to the Kim Keon Hee special prosecution team.

Gwangju branch chief Lim Eun-jeong, long classified as having pro-ruling-party leanings, was born in 1974 and graduated from Korea University's law department. She served in the Ministry of Justice's inspection division and in major economic crime investigation units at the Daegu and Daejeon district prosecutors offices before serving as chief of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office under the Lee Jae Myung administration. Lim previously filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, alleging he had obstructed an investigation into a case involving alleged instigation of perjury.

Beyond the question of political alignment, voices inside and outside the agency have raised doubts about the investigative capabilities of the new leadership. Critics have questioned whether officials with limited investigative experience are equipped to direct serious criminal cases.


bell@heraldcorp.com