{
  "id": 1657876,
  "title": "Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to launch in October with 2,874 personnel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/serious-crimes-investigation-agency-to-launch-in-october-with-2-874",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T07:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20260818/serious-crimes-investigation-agency-to-launch-in-october-with-2874-personnel"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) will commence operations in October, comprising 2,874 personnel, as part of major reforms that diminish prosecutors' investigative autonomy, according to the interior ministry. The ministry confirmed that decrees outlining the operational framework and organizational structure of the agency were approved during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. The SCIA is tasked with investigating seven major crime categories: corruption, economic crimes, defense acquisitions, drug offenses, state security offenses, cybercrimes, and violations of the law. The agency will consist of 2,567 investigators and 307 general-service employees. It will establish six regional offices across the country, each equipped with specialized investigative units tailored to regional needs. For example, the Seoul regional office will feature a dedicated joint investigation division.",
  "summary": "A new agency dedicated to investigating major crimes will have 2,874 personnel when it launches in October as part of a sweeping reform that strips prosecutors of their independent and supplementary investigative powers, the interior ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said implementing decrees detailing the operational standards and organizational structure of the tentatively named Serious…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to launch in Oct. with 2,874 personnel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/serious-crimes-investigation-agency-to-launch-in-oct-with-2-874",
        "published": "2026-08-18T06:31:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to launch in October with 2,874 personnel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/serious-crimes-investigation-agency-to-launch-in-october-with-2-874-1659659",
        "published": "2026-08-18T07:17:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}