South Korea launched the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) and a restructured Prosecution Service in a sweeping criminal-justice overhaul. The two agencies replace the existing prosecutors’ office after 78 years, with prosecutors limited to bringing and maintaining indictments while the SCIA investigates corruption, defense-industry crimes, insurrection and other serious offenses. The reform has drawn criticism over the transfer of investigative authority to police, whose conduct has faced scrutiny, and over whether prosecutors can effectively pursue cases without investigative powers. Both agencies began without chiefs. President Lee Jae Myung requested a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, his nominee to lead the SCIA, which launched with about 1,900 employees, or 66% of its authorized 2,874 positions.