Seoul: The interior ministry announced on Wednesday its intentions to establish a nomination committee tasked with selecting the inaugural chief for the upcoming Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. The ministry will be accepting candidate recommendations from the public until the following week.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the agency is set to launch on October 2 as a part of extensive reforms to the criminal justice system. These reforms aim to remove the independent and supplementary investigative powers from prosecutors. Public recommendations will be collected until next Wednesday and subsequently reviewed by a nine-member nomination committee in early September. The committee will narrow the candidates down to at least three.

Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung will recommend one final candidate to President Lee Jae Myung. The president will then formally appoint the chief of the agency after a parliamentary confirmation hearing. Eligible candidates must have a minimum of 15 years of experience in legal or investigative affairs and must meet all the requirements outlined in the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency Act.

The new agency is tasked with investigating major crimes in seven specific categories: corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisition, drug offenses, crimes against state security, cybercrimes, and offenses involving the distortion of the law.