More than 38 billion won invested in special prosecution for manipulation... Maximum among 7 special investigations

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seungyeon Lee = The so-called 'Special Prosecution Act on Manipulated Indictments', which investigates allegations of fabricated indictments by the Yoon Seok-yeol government prosecution, is expected to be implemented soon and more than 38 billion won will be invested by next year.

The special prosecution for manipulation of indictments is the seventh special prosecution since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, and is expected to spend the largest budget among these special prosecutions.

According to the cost estimate for the special prosecution law prepared by the National Assembly Budget Office on the 8th in May, the total finances required for the appointment and performance of the special prosecution for manipulation prosecution are 38.056 billion won.

By item, the special investigation team's labor costs were calculated to be 15.503 billion won, operating expenses were 15.199 billion won, facility costs were 1.54 billion won, and office rent was 5.851 billion won.

The estimate was prepared last May and did not reflect the personnel composition that was revised during the National Assembly resolution process.

The estimate calculated the cost assuming 6 assistant special prosecutors, 150 special investigators, and 30 dispatched prosecutors, but the staff composition according to the finally passed Special Prosecutors' Act on Tampering Indictments is 8 assistant special prosecutors, 70 special investigators, and 20 dispatched prosecutors.

Considering the increase in the number of special prosecutors, the decrease in the number of special investigators and dispatched prosecutors, and rising prices, it is expected that there will be some difference in the final finances invested.

The fact that the investigation period is up to 200 days, including 20 days for investigation preparation, was reflected in the same way as the final resolution.

The Office of Budget and Policy explained that the costs required to operate the special prosecution team were calculated by referring to the expenses incurred by the Kim Kun-hee special prosecution team.

According to the cost estimate prepared by the Ministry of Budget and Policy ahead of the launch of each special prosecution, 15.545 billion won will be invested for the civil war and Kim Kun-hee special prosecution, 7.856 billion won for the Marine special prosecution, and 15.431 billion won for the second comprehensive special prosecution.

In the case of Special Prosecutor Ahn Kwon-seop, who investigated allegations of non-prosecution of Coupang severance pay, 2.118 billion won was spent in the 90 days from its launch in December last year until the end of the investigation.

In the case of Lee Tae-han, special prosecutor of the National Election Commission, the staff size is 166, which is less than that of the special prosecutor for fabrication indictment (309), so the budget is also expected to be smaller.