Lee tells new serious crimes agency chief to investigate without regard to sides
Version 2: Further outlets reported Lee's 20 October cabinet remarks and Kim's first attendance at a cabinet meeting.
In short
President Lee Jae-myung presented an appointment letter to Kim Ji-yong, first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, at Cheong Wa Dae on 19 October. Lee told him to handle matters of public doubt according to principle, without distinguishing "your side" from "my side". On 20 October Lee repeated the message at a cabinet meeting, which Kim attended for the first time.
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President Lee Jae-myung presented an appointment letter on 19 October at Cheong Wa Dae to Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. Chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung (강유정) said in a written briefing that at a tea after the ceremony Lee greeted Kim with "you have worked hard" and asked him to handle matters of public doubt according to principle, without distinguishing "your side" from "my side". [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
Lee also said the agency must be recognised by the public for its reason to exist and must remember that many people are watching, according to the briefing. [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
Eight people received letters in all: Kim and seven others. They were Lee Hyung-il (이형일), deputy prime minister and finance minister; Kang Shin-cheol (강신철), defence minister; Hong Ji-seon (홍지선), land and transport minister; Lee So-young (이소영), minister of SMEs and startups; Im Gi-geun (임기근), head of the prime minister's coordination office; Ha Jun-kyung (하준경), Cheong Wa Dae policy chief; and Song Doo-hwan (송두환), chair of the special committee on the 29 October Itaewon disaster. Lee asked Song whether public questions about the disaster remained and asked that they be fully resolved. He told the ministers to give many opinions and to contact him at any time. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 15 ]
The agency began work on 2 October without a head. Lee approved Kim's appointment on 15 October, the day the National Assembly adopted the confirmation hearing report, and Kim started on 16 October by ordering a dedicated team to build a response system for serious crimes. Newsis said it took 37 days from nomination to appointment. Asia Economy said Kim had faced difficulty over a so-called pro-Yoon Suk Yeol prosecutor controversy raised in part of the ruling camp, while Hankook Ilbo said hardliners in the ruling bloc objected to his prosecution career, delaying the appointment. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Dong-A Ilbo noted that on 16 October Lee had posted on X asking the agency to investigate quickly, strictly and impartially and to prove its reason to exist through results. [ 10 ]
On 20 October, at a cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee told the agency to punish serious crimes that disturb social order with all its investigative power and no sanctuary, regardless of sides, Chosun Ilbo reported. He said the separation of investigation and prosecution made prosecution reform institutionally complete, and that the new agency might lack much. He named white-collar, power-related corruption and financial crimes. Kim attended a cabinet meeting for the first time and said he would settle the agency and complete prosecution reform. [ 20 , 22 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that Kim had said he would decide on cabinet attendance after consulting the relevant laws and agencies, while Cheong Wa Dae held that his attendance was natural. [ 8 ]
Why it matters
The outlets present the remarks as Lee's call for the new agency, set up as investigation and prosecution were separated, to earn public trust through impartial work. The documents give no further consequences yet.
Key facts
- On 19 October at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee Jae-myung gave an appointment letter to Kim Ji-yong, first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
- Chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that Lee told Kim to handle matters of public doubt according to principle, without distinguishing "your side" from "my side". [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
- Lee said the agency must be recognised by the public for its reason to exist and must remember that many people are watching. [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
- Eight people received appointment letters: Kim, seven other senior officials including four ministers and the head of the Itaewon disaster special investigation committee. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 13 ]
- Lee approved Kim's appointment on 15 October, the day the National Assembly adopted the confirmation hearing report; the agency had started work on 2 October without a head. [ 1 , 4 ]
- At a cabinet meeting on 20 October, Lee said serious crimes should be punished with all investigative power and no sanctuary, regardless of sides; Kim attended a cabinet meeting for the first time. [ 20 , 22 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Jae-myung presented the appointment letter to Kim Ji-yong at Cheong Wa Dae on 19 October and told him to handle matters of public doubt according to principle, without distinguishing sides. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
- Lee told the agency it must be recognised by the public for its reason to exist and must remember many people are watching. [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 ]
- Lee asked Song Doo-hwan, chair of the special committee on the 29 October Itaewon disaster, whether public questions about it remained and asked that they be fully resolved. [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 15 ]
- Lee told the new ministers to give many opinions and to contact him at any time. [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 15 ]
- On 20 October Lee told the agency to investigate without regard to sides and prove its reason to exist. [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]
Still unclear
- Why Lee greeted Kim with "you have worked hard". Hankook Ilbo said it appeared to refer to a delay in the appointment caused by objections from hardliners in the ruling bloc over Kim's prosecution career. Asia Economy cited controversy over a so-called pro-Yoon Suk Yeol prosecutor label. CBS NoCut News said Kim had faced tough scrutiny at the confirmation hearing. Cheong Wa Dae's briefing as quoted gives no reason.
- Whether Kim would attend cabinet meetings. Hankook Ilbo reported Kim said he would decide after consulting the relevant laws and agencies, while Cheong Wa Dae held that his attendance was natural. Chosun Ilbo reported he attended on 20 October. Hankook Ilbo also described 19 October as Kim's first day at work, while Korea Economic Daily and Asia Economy said he started on 16 October.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 18 October Korea Economic Daily reported that Lee would present Kim's appointment letter the next day. [ 1 ]
- On 19 October Yonhap flashed that Lee had presented the letter, quoting "don't distinguish your side from my side". [ 2 ]
- Asia Economy reported details of Kang Yu-jung's written briefing on the afternoon ceremony and tea. [ 4 ]
- On 20 October Dong-A Ilbo flashed Lee's cabinet meeting remarks urging the agency to investigate without regard to sides. [ 17 ]