Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) and Korea National Police Service (KNPS) prepare joint launch of 'Insurrection Special Investigation HQ' ... discuss location and staffing

[Financial News] The SCIA and KNPS are preparing to jointly launch an 'Insurrection Special Investigation Headquarters' (special investigation HQ) to investigate cases related to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis. The two agencies are discussing the headquarters' chain of command, staffing and location.
According to the SCIA and KNPS on the 5th, the two agencies are continuing working-level consultations on forming the insurrection special investigation HQ.
The SCIA is considering seconding a director-level official from a regional SCIA office who is a former prosecutor to the special investigation HQ. The KNPS is reportedly expected to second Senior Superintendent General Kang Il-gu, who has led the team handling insurrection-related cases. Kang has been investigating the cases left over after the disbandment of the 'National Police Agency Special Investigation Headquarters for Cases Handed Over by the Three Major Special Prosecutor Investigations.'
The special investigation HQ's chain of command is also under discussion. For now, the agencies are considering having officials seconded from the SCIA and KNPS serve as co-heads, one from each agency. However, the leadership structure may change depending on the ranks of the officials seconded by the two agencies.
The location of the special investigation HQ and the number of personnel to be seconded have not yet been decided. The location is reportedly being considered as a separate site rather than the Renesquare Building in Seoul's Jung District, where the SCIA's headquarters is located.
The insurrection special investigation HQ is expected to investigate the full range of cases related to the insurrection, including remaining cases handed over by the Three Major Special Prosecutor Investigations and the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel Team (Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young). After its investigation concluded, the comprehensive special counsel team handed 46 cases back to the KNPS.
A KNPS official added, "As we consider what investigative framework would be appropriate for the cases handed over to us, we are also considering an arrangement involving the SCIA and a special investigation HQ," and, "Nothing has been decided yet."
Special Counsel Kwon previously proposed forming a special investigation headquarters involving the joint participation of several investigative agencies when announcing the investigation results last August.
 

[email protected] Choi Eun-sol, Kim Ye-ji Reporter