As South Korea approaches a pivotal moment in its criminal justice history, preparations are ramping up for the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청), set to officially open its doors on October 2, 2026. The new agency, designed to inherit and specialize in the investigation of major crimes after the abolition of the prosecution office, represents the most sweeping reform in the country’s investigative landscape in nearly eight decades. According to Yonhap News TV, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has kicked off full-scale preparations, with a dedicated preparation team set to be established by the end of April.
The formation of this 64-member preparation team is already underway, drawing personnel from both the police and the prosecution, as well as administrative support from other government ministries. The recruitment drive, as reported by Newsis and Kyunghyang Shinmun, is targeting 7 police officers and 38 prosecutors and related officials. Among those from the prosecution, three will take on key leadership roles: chief of investigation planning, economic investigation team leader, and anti-corruption investigation team leader. The remaining 35 will be comprised of prosecution investigators and civil servants, reflecting the significant transfer of functions from the now-abolished prosecution office.
Recruitment notices were posted on April 15, 2026, across internal government networks, including the prosecution’s ‘E-Pros’ system. Applications are open until April 21, 2026, for prosecutors and civil servants from various prosecution offices and the Ministry of Justice. The dispatch period for these positions is slated from the end of April through October 1, 2026, with the potential for extensions to ensure a stable launch and ongoing operation of the new agency. The team will be headquartered at the Government Seoul Office Building’s Changseong-dong annex, a location that will serve as the operational hub for the months leading up to the agency’s inauguration.
According to Segye Ilbo and News1, the roles within the preparation team are clearly defined. The chief of investigation planning, drawn from judicial training classes 37-41, will oversee the development and coordination of investigative strategies. The economic and anti-corruption team leaders, selected from judicial training classes 40-45 or those who passed the bar exam in the first four years, will handle the planning and transfer of economic and anti-corruption investigations. The other 35 members, spanning grades 4 through 8, will manage a broad array of tasks: budget planning, legal and administrative rule management, drug and scientific investigation planning, process and infrastructure setup, digital forensics, criminal justice information systems, and office facilities.
Notably, the Ministry of Justice has introduced an incentive system to encourage participation and reward outstanding performance during the preparation period. As Law Issue reports, personnel who demonstrate exemplary work will be eligible for personnel incentives, adding a motivational edge to what is already a high-stakes endeavor. However, not everyone is eligible to apply—those currently on leave or under investigation or disciplinary procedures are excluded from consideration, according to Yonhap News.
The police, for their part, have also begun recruiting for the preparation team. As of April 14, 2026, they are selecting 7 officers—2 inspectors, 4 senior inspectors, and 1 inspector—to join the cross-agency effort. Their primary mission will be to help establish cooperative investigative frameworks and ensure seamless integration with the new agency’s operations. This careful balancing of personnel from both police and prosecution backgrounds is intended to mitigate potential turf wars and confusion, particularly given the overlapping jurisdictions that have historically caused friction between the two institutions.
The scale and scope of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency have been carefully negotiated. In a landmark agreement on March 17, 2026, the ruling party, government, and Blue House finalized amendments that not only established the agency but also created a separate Public Prosecutor’s Office (공소청) to handle prosecution and case maintenance. The investigative scope of the new agency was trimmed from nine to six major crime categories, focusing on areas such as economic and corruption crimes. Importantly, investigative personnel have been unified under the title of ‘investigator,’ streamlining the workforce and clarifying roles. The previous requirement for the agency to notify the Public Prosecutor’s Office upon commencing investigations was also removed, as reported by Kyunghyang Shinmun.
The operational expenses for all dispatched personnel are being fully funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, ensuring that financial concerns do not hinder the agency’s establishment. According to News1 and Newsis, this comprehensive support covers everything from salaries to logistical needs, allowing the team to focus on the monumental tasks ahead.
With only about five months left before the official launch, the preparation team faces a tight timeline. Their responsibilities include setting up the agency’s physical office, forming its organizational structure, transferring case records from the prosecution office, and installing new investigative and administrative systems. There is also significant attention being paid to the ratio and rank assignments between police and prosecution investigators, as well as to the need for clear subordinate regulations to prevent overlapping investigations and confusion with existing agencies. The boundaries of investigative authority remain somewhat ambiguous, and the government is working to draft precise regulations to address these gray areas—a step seen as crucial for the agency’s smooth integration and long-term success.
The stakes could hardly be higher. As Yonhap News TV put it, "The success or failure of the adjustment of investigative powers will be put to the test by the smooth landing of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency." The preparation team, shouldering what many see as a historic responsibility, must ensure that the transition from the old prosecution office to the new agency is not only smooth but also effective in delivering justice for major crimes.
As the clock ticks down to October, South Korea stands on the cusp of a transformative change in its approach to investigating and prosecuting serious crimes. The coming months will determine whether this ambitious reform can deliver on its promise of a more focused, efficient, and fair system for tackling the nation’s most significant criminal cases.