South Korea's investigation chief nominee backs reform at contentious hearing
In short
Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the nominee to lead South Korea's Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, backed prosecution reform at his October 14 confirmation hearing. He identified former President Yoon Suk Yeol as a leading example of a politically influenced prosecutor while lawmakers questioned his own record and independence.
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Kim Ji-yong (김지용), nominated as the first head of South Korea's Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, pledged to prevent the politicisation of investigations at an October 14 confirmation hearing. Newsis reported that the hearing ended about 12 hours after it opened. Questions centred on his alleged closeness to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and whether he supported prosecution reform based on separating investigations from indictments. Kim denied being aligned with Yoon and said the agency's success would be a measure of the reforms' success. [ 24 ]
Before the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Kim said problems in the prosecution service made reform necessary. Asked to identify a leading political prosecutor, he named Yoon, saying the former prosecutor general had exerted the greatest negative influence. Asked whether independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also fell into that category, he said it was difficult to deny. Yonhap reported that Kim had publicly opposed removing prosecutors' investigative powers while serving as a prosecutor but changed his position after his nomination. [ 7 ]
Democratic Party lawmakers challenged Kim over his involvement in decisions concerning former prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung (정진웅). They sought confirmation of whether Kim had formally opposed an indictment and whether he had approved related documents. Lawmakers also questioned his participation in a 2020 collective statement concerning disciplinary action against Yoon. Kim defended participation as appropriate at the time and said it differed from the actions of Gwangju agency chief Im Eun-jeong (임은정), who had opposed his nomination. [ 3 , 5 , 16 ]
The People Power Party questioned delays in the hearing and preparations for the agency's launch, Maeil Business reported. Lawmakers from both sides also criticised missing documents. Asked whether internal rules should restrict the interior minister's involvement in specific investigations, Kim said he would consider them and introduce them if necessary. He said existing law already contained safeguards for fairness and neutrality and maintained that he had handled cases according to law and facts rather than political considerations. [ 14 ]
Why it matters
The agency emerged from prosecution reforms, and lawmakers sought to establish whether its first chief supported their purpose. Kim pledged to prevent investigations from becoming politicised and said he would consider internal rules to restrict ministerial interference.
Key facts
- Kim Ji-yong (김지용) appeared before the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on October 14. [ 6 , 7 ]
- Kim said he supported prosecution reform and acknowledged problems in the prosecution service. [ 7 , 8 ]
- He named Yoon Suk Yeol as a leading example of a political prosecutor and said it was difficult to deny that Han Dong-hoon also belonged in that category. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Lawmakers questioned Kim's past case decisions and participation in a 2020 statement opposing disciplinary action against Yoon. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Kim said he would consider internal rules restricting the interior minister's interference in specific investigations. [ 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Kim would introduce internal rules restricting ministerial interference in investigations. He said he would consider rules and introduce them if necessary; no decision was reported.