Yoon Ho-jung, the Minister of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, expressed regret on October 6 over the launch of the Major Crime Investigation Agency (MCIA) without a leader.
During a National Assembly audit session, Yoon responded to criticism from ruling party lawmaker Kwon Young-jin, who pointed out that the agency's launch without a head has caused significant public anxiety. Yoon stated, "We did our best, but I am very sorry that we could not launch with a leader."r />
Yoon also apologized for the delay in the confirmation hearing for the agency's first head, Kim Ji-yong, which is scheduled to take place during the audit period. Kwon criticized the timing, saying, "Sending the confirmation request to the National Assembly just a month after the nomination means we are not adequately prepared for either the audit or the hearing."r />
In response, Yoon explained, "We aimed to complete the confirmation and appointment process before the agency's launch, but it did not go as planned. I ask for thorough verification despite the limited time available." He reiterated his apology for the late confirmation request.
On September 7, Yoon nominated Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor, as the first head of the MCIA, and the following day, President Lee Jae-myung officially nominated him. However, the submission of the confirmation request to the National Assembly was delayed due to demands from hardline members of the ruling party to withdraw the nomination. The request was finally submitted to the National Assembly on October 2 after receiving presidential approval on October 1. Kim's confirmation hearing is set for October 14.
Concerns about launching the MCIA without a leader have also been raised within the ruling party. Lawmaker Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party pointed out, "The public is worried that the MCIA, starting without a leader, may neglect the protection of citizens' rights."
Yoon requested understanding, stating that the delay in the confirmation request was due to the significant nature of the personnel changes, which have not occurred in the criminal justice system for 70 years. He noted, "There were concerns raised about the appropriateness of Kim's appointment, and we took time to carefully assess whether we could proceed with the appointment process."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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