Briefing on recruitment for the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA). (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Jong-chan — On the 11th, a recruitment briefing for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Serious Crimes Investigation Agency was held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Pictured is the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on that day. 2026.8.11 saba@yna.co.kr

Subordinate statutes defining the operational standards and organizational structure of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), which will launch in October, have passed the Cabinet meeting.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 18th that the enactments of the 'Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Organization and Operation of the SCIA,' the 'Organizational Structure of the SCIA and its Affiliated Agencies,' and the 'Enforcement Decree on the Appointment of SCIA Investigators' were approved at the Cabinet meeting.

The statutes approved today contain detailed operational standards for the SCIA, as well as necessary provisions regarding organization, staffing, and personnel management for investigators, following a pre-announcement period from the 5th to the 10th.

The SCIA will investigate seven major types of crime, including corruption, economic crimes, defense industry crimes, narcotics, crimes against the state (insurrection and foreign aggression), cybercrimes, and crimes involving the distortion of law. It will be composed of a total of 2,874 personnel, including 2,567 investigators and 307 general administrative officials.

Specialized and joint investigation departments tailored to specific types of crime will be established at regional offices. For example, the Seoul Regional Office will house a joint investigation division for voice phishing, finance, and virtual asset crimes. Other offices include the Suwon Regional Office’s Defense Industry and Technology Investigation Division and Joint Narcotics Investigation Division, the Daejeon Regional Office’s Joint National Fiscal Crime Investigation Division, and the Busan Regional Office’s International Economic Crime Investigation Division.

To exclusively handle supplementary investigations requested by prosecutors, a Special Investigation Team for Crimes Against Socially Vulnerable Groups will be established at the main headquarters, a Special Investigation Division at the Seoul Regional Office, and specialized teams at all other regional offices.

The regulations require other investigative agencies to notify the SCIA when they detect serious crimes, and they also define investigation review procedures to allow external experts to assess the legality and appropriateness of SCIA investigations. Notably, a basis was established to allow parties involved in a case to request such an investigation review.

The SCIA Commissioner Recommendation Committee will recommend at least three candidates from among those deemed qualified, and individuals, corporations, and organizations will also be permitted to participate in the nomination process.

Prosecutors and investigators currently working at the Prosecutors' Office may transfer to the SCIA without taking a separate exam if they wish. Chief Prosecutor-level officials will be appointed as Grade 1 investigators; Deputy and Chief Prosecutor-level officials as Grade 2; prosecutors with 10 or more years of legal experience as Grade 3; and prosecutors with less than 10 years of experience as Grade 4.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to proceed with follow-up steps, including forming the Commissioner Recommendation Committee, appointing investigators, securing office facilities, and establishing system infrastructure.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung stated, "We will build the SCIA into a specialized investigative agency that protects the public without gaps from crimes affecting daily life—such as voice phishing, financial crimes, and virtual asset fraud—as well as crimes targeting socially vulnerable groups, including child abuse and sexual offenses." (Yonhap News)