Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead Korea's new crimes agency, vows to end politicised probes
In short
Kim Ji-yong (김지용), nominated as the first head of South Korea's Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청), said on 8 October that he would end the politicisation of investigations and investigate fairly regardless of ruling or opposition party. He said past politically motivated prosecution investigations led to the abolition of the prosecution service, and pledged to root out insurrection crimes and corruption, financial and white-collar crime. His National Assembly confirmation hearing is set for 14 October.
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Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the nominee to become the first commissioner of South Korea's Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청), said on 8 October that he would end the politicisation of investigations. He spoke to reporters at about 2 p.m. at the Changseong-dong annex of the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, where his confirmation hearing preparation office is located. He said he wanted to tell the public how he would lead the agency ahead of his hearing. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Kim said that in the past the prosecution had carried out 'targeted' and 'dust-off' investigations for political purposes, causing many abuses, and that he felt keenly that this had led to the abolition of the prosecution service. He said the agency would firmly maintain political neutrality and investigative independence, and conduct strict and fair investigations according to law and principle regardless of ruling or opposition party, to establish itself as a specialist investigative body trusted by the public. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
He said he would root out insurrection crimes and would not tolerate acts that shake national discipline, and that corruption, financial and white-collar crimes would be investigated fairly and punished 'without taking sides'. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the insurrection remark appeared to take into account President Lee Jae-myung's earlier comments on the need for an insurrection special investigation headquarters. Chosun Ilbo reported that Lee was said to be considering ordering such a body in connection with the 3 December martial law, and that some in politics and the legal community had suggested it was aimed at Chief Justice Jo Hee-de (조희대). [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
On the agency's early operation, Kim said he would form a dedicated team immediately on taking office to set up staffing, facilities and systems, and actively recruit police officers, lawyers, accountants and other specialists as well as former prosecutors. He said he would work to implement the separation of investigation and prosecution and leave no gap in protecting the vulnerable and crime victims. Chosun Ilbo and Newsis presented these remarks as a response to criticism of insufficient preparation and staffing for the agency's launch, and Dong-A Ilbo interpreted the recruitment pledge as addressing concerns in the ruling camp about appointments dominated by former prosecutors. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
According to Newsis, when reporters asked about the agency's head post remaining vacant after case assignments had begun, and about opposition to his nomination, Kim said he would answer at the hearing. Seoul Economic Daily reported that some in the ruling camp, including Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, had criticised him as a 'pro-Yoon Suk Yeol prosecutor' and 'prosecution loyalist', and that the presidential office kept the nomination after further vetting. The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee voted on 7 October to hold his hearing on 14 October. [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
Why it matters
The agency is a new investigative body created under the separation of investigation and prosecution, and Kim would be its first head. Outlets report that his nomination has drawn criticism from parts of the ruling camp, and the 14 October hearing is expected to focus on his political neutrality and fitness to carry out prosecution reform.
Key facts
- Kim Ji-yong is the nominee for first commissioner of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- He spoke to reporters on 8 October at about 2 p.m. at the Changseong-dong annex of the Government Complex Seoul, where his hearing preparation office is located. [ 2 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- Kim said he would end the politicisation of investigations, saying past 'targeted' and 'dust-off' prosecution investigations caused many abuses and led to the abolition of the prosecution service. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- He pledged to root out insurrection crimes and to investigate corruption, financial and white-collar crimes 'without taking sides'. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He said he would form a dedicated team immediately on taking office to set up staffing, facilities and systems, and recruit police officers, lawyers, accountants and other specialists as well as former prosecutors. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee will hold his confirmation hearing on 14 October. [ 5 , 6 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim pledged to end the politicisation of investigations and to investigate impartially regardless of ruling or opposition party. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- Kim said politically motivated investigations by the prosecution led to its abolition. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- Kim said he would root out insurrection crimes and strictly punish corruption, financial and white-collar crimes. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Kim plans to recruit staff from outside the prosecution, including police, lawyers and accountants. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- His confirmation hearing is scheduled for 14 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim's pledge on insurrection crimes relates to President Lee Jae-myung's remarks on an insurrection special investigation headquarters. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the remark appeared to take the president's comments into account, and Chosun Ilbo reported the president was said to be considering such a directive; Kim did not say so himself.
- Kim's response to criticism of his nomination and to the agency operating without a head. Newsis reported that Kim declined to answer reporters' questions on these points, saying he would address them at the hearing.
- Whether 8 October was Kim's first day at the hearing preparation office. Dong-A Ilbo described it as his first day at the office, while a Kyunghyang Shinmun photo caption shows him entering the same building on 2 October.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kim speaks to reporters at the Changseong-dong annex of the Government Complex Seoul; Yonhap and other outlets publish his remarks. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- Newsis reports Kim declined to answer questions on the vacancy and opposition to his nomination, saying he would answer at the hearing. [ 9 ]