Article 25 Deleted. <Oct. 24, 2023> Article 26 (Exclusive Investigation with Respect to Victims of Sexual Crimes) (1) The Prosecutor General of the Public Prosecutors' Office shall have the chief public prosecutor of each district public prosecutors' office designate public prosecutors in exclusive charge of sexual crimes to investigate the victims of such crimes except in exceptional circumstances. (2) The Commissioner General of the National Police Agency shall have the chief of each police station designate judicial police officers in exclusive charge of sexual crimes to investigate the victims of such crimes except in exceptional circumstances. (3) The State shall provide a public prosecutor under paragraph (1) and a judicial police officer in paragraph (2) with education on professional knowledge necessary to investigate sexual crimes, investigative methods and procedures for the protection of victims, child psychology, investigative interview techniques for children and persons with disabilities, and other matters. <Amended on Jul. 11, 2023> (4) When a public prosecutor under paragraph (1) and a judicial police officer in paragraph (2) in exclusive charge of sexual crimes investigate a victim under the age of 19 or a victim who lacks the ability to discern things or to make a decision due to any physical or mental disability (hereinafter referred to as "victim under the age of 19, etc."), he or she shall fully consider the age, cognitive development stage, mental state, degree of a disability, etc. of the victim. <Newly Inserted on Jul. 11, 2023> Article 27 (Special Cases concerning Appointment of Counsel for Victims of Sexual Crimes) (1) The victim of a sexual crime and his or her legal representative (hereinafter referred to as "victim, etc.") may appoint counsel to defend them against any damage that they may suffer in criminal proceedings and to provide them with legal assistance. (2) The counsel referred to in paragraph (1) may participate in the investigation of the victim, etc. by a public prosecutor or a judicial police officer to state his or her views: Provided, That when the investigation is under way, the counsel may state his or her views subject to approval by the public prosecutor or judicial police officer. (3) The counsel referred to in paragraph (1) may appear before the court to state his or her views at any stage of the examination of the suspect before detention, procedures for preserving evidence, preparatory hearing date, and trial proceedings. In such cases, detailed matters regarding necessary procedures shall be prescribed by the Supreme Court Regulations. (4) The counsel referred to in paragraph (1) may inspect or copy any related document or evidence for his or her case in which evidence is preserved or which is pending in the court. (5) The counsel referred to in paragraph (1) shall have the comprehensive power to act on behalf of the victim, etc. in all procedural acts for which representation is permissible in criminal proceedings.