The government of the Republic of Korea officially set-up an anti-corruption agency to investigate high-ranking officials. Yonhap news agency reported.
President Moon Jae-in formally authorized former Judge Kim Jin-wook to the position of head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) after the National Assembly approved his appointment.
Kim, 54-year-old, leads a team of 25 prosecutors and 40 investigators, among others.
The agency is empowered to investigate corruption cases of government officials, lawmakers, and prosecutors, including the president and their family members.
The agency also has the power to bring charges when it comes to crimes involving government officials.
Establishing the anti-corruption body was promised in the inauguration speech of the President of South Korea in May 2017.
Currently, two former presidents of the Republic of Korea are in prison on corruption charges.
Last week, President Moon turned down any offers of special pardons for his predecessors.
Earlier, South Korea’s top court also upheld prison sentences of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.
