Efficient anti-graft body

The justice ministry announced Sunday its suggestions for an anti-corruption agency that could investigate the President and other high-ranking officials.

The gist is a staff of 25 prosecutors, 30 investigators and 20 general staffers with its head to be chosen by the National Assembly speaker and endorsed by President Moon Jae-in.

The competing proposal by a committee for prosecution reform came a month ago, suggesting a staff of 50 prosecutors and 70 investigators be put under a head who the President would name.

The ministry’s proposal reflected criticism of the proposed anti-graft unit becoming a superagency, and was aimed at reducing the President’s influence.

But it has its own flaws. First, it suggested a three-year tenure for the prosecutors. Although the ministry suggested two extensions for a maximum of nine years, it is quite plausible they would be replaced every time a new agency head is named.

This would jeopardize their job security and prevent competent prosecutors from applying. These suggestions are said to have to comply with the ministry’s view that if the agency gets too big and powerful, its raison d’etre would be questioned.

It is true that there is every reason the agency shouldn’t be bloated in size but this doesn’t mean it should be made too small to perform its intended functions.

The launch of the agency is being sought to address the fact that prosecutors are subservient to power and fail to investigate powerful people for their wrongdoings.

So it is the National Assembly’s job to compare the two proposals with each other and come up with the best format that strikes a balance between size and efficiency.

The rival parties should not make a political issue of the creation of the special agency, the first of its kind in our history.

It is strongly hoped that the establishment of the anti-corruption agency will be a turning point in the nation’s campaign to unearth deep-rooted power-related corruption.