By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

A controversy has flared over the government’s move to create an investigative body separate from the state prosecution to monitor corruption among high-level government officials.

On Tuesday, President Roh Moo-hyun instructed officials to conduct a feasibility study for the creation of an investigative body under the presidential Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption (KICAC).

Government officials say the idea is to strengthen integrity in officialdom, but many worry the presidential investigative body will undercut the role of the prosecution.

Most prosecutors oppose the government’s move, believing it will lead to confusion in investigations of public officials.

``Most of us don’t understand why the government is trying to create another independent investigative body at this moment,’’ a prosecutor of the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office said. ``The body will eventually undermine the independence of the prosecution, which has focused on uncovering the corruption of government officials for the past several months.’’

Some even speculate that the move is politically motivated. Civic groups claim the body will be swayed by politics, giving Roh and his close aides the means to tighten their grip on high-level officials.

The idea is not new. Past governments have had their own investigative bodies for similar operations, but misused them to gag political dissidents.

Despite such skepticism, KICAC officials explain the creation of a presidential investigative body is inevitable at a time when most Koreans perceive that the level of corruption in Korea is seriously high.

They justify the move by saying domestic and international indicators demonstrate that Korea has a low level of ethical integrity and that eradication of corruption is one of the most urgent and imperative tasks requiring attention.

The KICAC, charged with the historic mission of eradicating corruption, was created in January 2002 to improve the legal framework for anti-corruption activities, formulate and enforce anti-corruption laws and policies, and respond to whistle-blowing. The body currently has no investigative or prosecutorial powers, but if an investigative body is set up under its wing, the KICAC will play the role of the prosecution in the investigation of public officials.

The KICAC hopes to shift its policy from the detection and punishment of corruption to the eradication of corruption’s cultural, social and institutional roots, for which it claims more powers are required.

But many experts are skeptical as to whether the presidential body, if established, will be free from political intervention.

``The prosecution is currently effectively fulfilling its role, conducting successful investigations into high-profile corruption cases,’’ a judge of the Seoul Central District Court said. ``The government should offer better explanations about why an investigative body under the presidential commission is needed at this moment.’’

jj@koreatimes.co.kr