South Korea's new crime agency's first probe targets critic of would-be chief

· Politics · South Korea

Just nine days after its launch, South Korea's new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is set to conduct its first internal inspection, targeting a regional office chief who has repeatedly criticized the nominee to lead the agency. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said Sunday he would order an inspection of Im Eun-jeong. Separately, the killing of a domestic violence victim's mother exposed gaps in police protection, after a man under investigation for domestic violence allegedly killed his mother-in-law and abducted his wife on Sunday after a court-ordered restriction expired.

Why it matters：The probe into a critic of its own nominee raises questions about the independence of South Korea's new investigative agency, while the domestic violence case highlights protection gaps.

Key points

  • The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency launched nine days ago.
  • Its first internal inspection targets a regional chief who criticized the agency's nominee.
  • A domestic violence suspect allegedly killed his mother-in-law after a court order expired.

Sources (original reporting)

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