[Exclusive] Prosecution's 'Crime Intelligence' functions, scaled back under Moon administration, expanded under Lee administration's CMSA

[Exclusive] Prosecution's 'Crime Intelligence' functions, scaled back under Moon administration, expanded under Lee administration's CMSA
CMSA to deploy 14 investigators from former prosecution backgrounds
Veterans to be stationed at regional offices nationwide, including 8 in Seoul
Concerns persist regarding indiscriminate information gathering
CMSA: "We will only collect and verify information within our authority"
Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan
It has been confirmed that the newly launched Major Crimes Investigation Agency (CMSA), established to investigate seven major types of serious crimes, is operating with expanded "crime intelligence" functions—the production of criminal intelligence—compared to the previous prosecution system. Evaluations suggest the agency is showing a strong commitment to proactive investigations by establishing dedicated departments not only at the headquarters and Seoul office but also at regional offices nationwide.
Significantly scaled back during Moon administration's prosecution reform; partially restored under Yoon administration
According to a comprehensive report by CBS No Cut News on the 22nd, the CMSA has established departments to collect and verify crime-related information at its headquarters and various regional offices, including Seoul. The departments, named the Investigation Information Officer's Office at the headquarters and the Investigation Information Officer's Office at regional offices, have been set up, and the assigned investigators have already begun their duties.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Crime Intelligence Planning Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Division, referred to as 'crime intelligence' units, were considered core organizations of the prosecution. This is because intelligence reports from these units often led to major special investigations. The Prosecution Service (formerly the prosecution), which currently lacks investigative authority, has abolished these functions.
Prior to the Moon administration, crime information divisions existed not only at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office but also at some district offices such as Busan. In other regions, crime intelligence was collected and produced by assigning investigators dedicated to crime information within investigation divisions at the district or branch office levels.
However, as the Moon administration pushed for prosecution reform, it significantly scaled back related departments and functions to guard against concerns regarding indiscriminate information gathering and targeted investigations by crime intelligence units. In that process, related functions in regions outside of Seoul virtually disappeared.
Subsequently, while the Yoon administration restored the crime intelligence functions of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to a certain extent and re-designated investigation information officers at each district and branch office, these were evaluated as being practically ineffective in terms of actual functionality.
However, unlike the former prosecution, the newly opened CMSA appears to be strengthening these functions by establishing dedicated departments at regional offices nationwide. This is interpreted as an intention to respond proactively to major crimes occurring not only in the capital but also in regional areas.
https://n.news.naver.com/article/079/0004201367?sid=102