Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae again opposes Kim Ji-yong as crime investigation agency chief
In short
Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae renewed her opposition to Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, calling him a pro-Yoon prosecutor and listing three reasons she says make him unfit. She demanded proper vetting ahead of his National Assembly confirmation hearing, scheduled for October 14. Headlines in Kukmin Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo said her post came despite Kim Min-seok calling for restraint.
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Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae has again voiced opposition to Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, calling him a pro-Yoon prosecutor and demanding proper vetting. Kyunghyang Shinmun said she wrote on Facebook on October 8; Chosun Ilbo said she posted on social media late on October 7. Her post precedes Kim's National Assembly confirmation hearing, scheduled for October 14, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun. Headlines in Kukmin Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo said she posted despite Kim Min-seok calling for restraint suited to one's position. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Choo listed three reasons she considers Kim unfit. First, she said that as deputy chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office he took part in illegal collective action opposing disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol. She rejected what she described as the nominee's argument that procedural flaws justified the action, saying the Seoul Administrative Court and Seoul High Court found no problem with the inspection procedure up to that point. She also said his promotion to chief prosecutor under the Moon Jae-in government had no bearing on whether he was pro-Yoon. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Second, Choo said that as head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office criminal department Kim held a press conference with other senior prosecutors publicly opposing the Moon government's prosecution reform, and has since changed his position. Third, she cited an allegation that, as Seoul High Prosecutors' Office deputy chief, Kim stamped approval of the indictment of prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong, who had investigated Han Dong-hoon in the Channel A case. She said Kim should say so if he did not approve it. [ 2 , 3 ]
Choo also disputed claims that Kim's investigative ability qualifies him, saying the assault case against Jeong Jin-woong and the case against Lee Kwang-chul over the travel ban on Kim Hak-ui both ended in final acquittals. No response from Kim Ji-yong to the latest post is reported in the coverage. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The nominee faces a parliamentary confirmation hearing on October 14, and a sitting provincial governor is publicly campaigning against his appointment. Coverage in two national dailies framed the post as defying a call for restraint from Kim Min-seok, pointing to friction among senior figures over the appointment.
Key facts
- Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae posted on social media opposing the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Choo called Kim a pro-Yoon prosecutor and demanded proper vetting of the nominee. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Choo listed three reasons she considers Kim unfit for the post. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Kim's National Assembly confirmation hearing is scheduled for October 14. [ 2 ]
- Choo said Kim, as deputy chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, took part in illegal collective action opposing disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Choo said Kim, as head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office criminal department, held a press conference publicly opposing prosecution reform. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Headlines reported that Kim Min-seok had called for restraint suited to one's position before Choo's latest post. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Choo Mi-ae publicly opposed Kim Ji-yong's appointment as Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief and called him a pro-Yoon prosecutor. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Choo cited three grounds for finding Kim unfit. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Kim Min-seok had called for restraint, according to headlines in two outlets. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- When exactly Choo posted her message. Chosun Ilbo said she posted late on the night of October 7; Kyunghyang Shinmun said she wrote it on Facebook on October 8.
- Whether Kim Ji-yong approved the indictment of prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong. Choo described this as an allegation and called on Kim to say whether he signed it; no response from Kim is reported.
- How Kim Ji-yong or his side responded to Choo's latest post. Only Choo's account of the nominee's earlier arguments is reported; no direct response appears in the documents.
- What Kim Min-seok said in full about restraint or 'control'. His remarks appear only in headlines, without detail.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports that Choo again called Kim Ji-yong pro-Yoon after Kim Min-seok said he would exercise control. [ 1 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports Choo's Facebook post setting out three grounds against the nominee. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports Choo's post alongside Kim Min-seok's call for restraint. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports Choo's three reasons for opposing the appointment. [ 4 ]