At the inauguration ceremony, “The method of exercising investigative power must change… Please conduct a fair investigation.”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seung-yeon Lee = Director Choi Jae-min (55, 30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), who was appointed as the first head of the Seoul Regional Heavy Water Agency, asked the staff to conduct a strict investigation in accordance with laws and principles, saying that past mistakes should not be repeated.
Commissioner Choi made this announcement at the inauguration ceremony held at Rene Square Building in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 7th.
Commissioner Choi said, "In the midst of the great transformation of the criminal justice system that has occurred in 78 years, we have taken the first step with a new name," and added, "The process of getting to this point has not been smooth. There are many tasks that need to be solved in the future."
He said, “I will do my best to ensure the successful establishment of this organization,” and gave four requests to employees.
First of all, he requested, “Please conduct a fair investigation in accordance with laws and principles.”
Commissioner Choi said, “You must have thought a lot as you saw the name and mark of a familiar institution disappearing,” and added, “We were the closest to witnessing the consequences when an investigative agency loses the public’s trust.”
He emphasized, "Based on these lessons, we must conduct a strict investigation in accordance with laws and principles, focusing only on the people and not being swayed by power and political interests."
Commissioner Choi emphasized that the method of exercising investigative power must also change.
He said, “Past mistakes such as search and seizure that secures a wide range of materials unrelated to the charges, investigations that endlessly expand the scope in search of other charges, and investigations that continue for a long time without a clear reason should not be repeated with just a different name.”
He continued, "In accordance with the principle of proportionality required by the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Act, the scope and intensity of the investigation must be determined as necessary, and the facts and scope must be accurately reviewed to conduct the investigation quickly."
Commissioner Choi's second request was to have professional investigative capabilities.
He said, “In-depth expertise is needed to understand complex financial transactions and the structure of the capital market, find evidence in vast amounts of data, and uncover the true nature of crimes.”
He also said, “Please achieve teamwork and human harmony through steel-like bonds,” and added, “You should not draw a line or insist on your own way because of your job title.”
Lastly, Commissioner Choi asked members of the agency that investigates corruption and economic crimes to apply strict moral standards.
He said, “One person’s misconduct or moral laxity can nullify the dedication of colleagues and destroy the trust of the entire organization,” and added, “Please maintain integrity and dignity not only in the performance of your duties, but also in your daily words and actions.”
Commissioner Choi said, "I know very well that there are difficulties because all the conditions are not yet in place," and added, "I ask each person here to work with pride and a sense of ownership as a founding member laying the foundation for a new organization."
Commissioner Choi is a former prosecutor and graduated from Muhak High School in Gyeongsangbuk-do and the Department of Law at Sungkyunkwan University.
He led the front-line investigation as the first deputy chief prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office and the second deputy chief prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. In 2023, after serving as the head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office's inspection department, he left the prosecution and opened a law office under his own name.
