Deputy Chief of Serious Crime Investigation Agency: "Restraint Is the Top Priority Beyond Separating Investigations and Prosecutions... We Will Uphold Political Neutrality"

[Financial News] Jeon Jong-min, deputy chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, identified "restraint" as the top priority for the agency, which officially launched on the 2nd. He declared that it would uphold political neutrality and investigative independence, build professional investigative capabilities, and establish itself as an investigative agency trusted by the public.
At the agency's opening ceremony that day, Jeon said, "We stand at the center of a sweeping transformation of the criminal justice system taking place for the first time in 78 years," adding, "When one institution holds both investigations and prosecutions, it is difficult for it to be strict with itself."
He emphasized, "Dividing power alone is not enough. Only when the divided powers each restrain themselves is that division finally complete."
He particularly stressed the protection of human rights and the principle of proportionality during investigations. Jeon said, "Restraint does not mean conducting fewer investigations; it is a promise to conduct them more accurately. We will become an investigative agency that is firm in the face of serious crimes but extremely cautious when it comes to the freedoms and rights of the public."
He also directly addressed concerns in some quarters that the agency had not been sufficiently prepared for its launch. "I am well aware that there are considerable concerns that the Serious Crime Investigation Agency may have launched without adequate preparation," he said. "We will not dismiss those concerns. We will address them one by one and turn skeptical views into trust."
Jeon also pledged five principles: prioritizing crime victims and socially vulnerable people; upholding political neutrality and investigative independence; performing duties fairly in accordance with the law and principles; securing professional investigative capabilities; and guaranteeing human rights and due process.
He said, "We will stabilize the organization as soon as possible and lay deep foundations so that the new criminal justice system can support the next 100 years."
The Serious Crime Investigation Agency is a newly launched investigative body that took over the scope of direct investigations previously handled by the prosecution on the 2nd. As the confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, nominee for the agency's first chief, has been delayed, Jeon is expected to serve as acting chief for the time being.
 
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