Prosecutors who have left South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) stayed an average of about two years, with one departing before completing a single year. The figures have prompted criticism that the agency has become a career waypoint for prosecutors moving on to large law firms.
Of the 46 prosecutors appointed since the agency launched in January 2021 through August this year, 25, or 54%, resigned at their own request, according to data obtained from the CIO by the office of Rep. Kim Ki-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on Oct. 13.
None of them served the full 12-year maximum tenure for CIO prosecutors or left upon reaching retirement age.
Under the law governing the agency, CIO prosecutors serve three-year terms and may be reappointed three times, for up to 12 years in total.
Despite the three-year term, prosecutors who have left stayed an average of 749 days, or roughly two years. The shortest tenure was 273 days.
Lawyers in private practice accounted for the largest share of prosecutors appointed to the agency.
Of the 46, 15, or 32%, came from private practice, while 13, or 28%, came from the prosecution service. Nine, or 19%, came from other state agencies and five, or 10%, from the National Police Agency.
"The CIO has been reduced to a career stepping stone for those looking to move on," Kim said. "This is the point at which fundamental organizational reform is needed."