Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, began his first day at work by directing the formation of a response team aimed at ensuring the agency's early establishment.
On October 16, the agency reported that Kim arrived at its headquarters located in the Renaissance Square building in Jung-gu, Seoul, to receive briefings on key issues and tasks from relevant departments.
As his first directive, Kim emphasized the importance of the agency's swift establishment, a key outcome of criminal justice reform. He specifically ordered the rapid formation of a response team to address concerns about potential gaps in initial investigations due to a lack of investigative personnel and the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS) infrastructure.
The response team will function as a task force to organize the agency's personnel, facilities, and systems. Kim also instructed that all tasks be pursued with urgency to achieve visible investigative results as soon as possible.
Kim stressed the need to maintain political neutrality and the independence of investigations, ensuring that there are no gaps in protecting vulnerable groups and crime victims. This reiterates the core principles he emphasized during his confirmation hearing in the National Assembly.
However, Kim avoided reporters waiting outside the building as he entered the agency. The originally scheduled inauguration ceremony was postponed due to scheduling issues with the Blue House, and the swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place next week.
The National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee adopted a report on Kim's confirmation the previous day, and on the same day, President Lee Jae-myung approved the appointment, filling the leadership vacancy that had existed since the agency's launch on October 2.
Despite this, key positions in major judicial institutions, including the Minister of Justice, the Prosecutor General, and the Commissioner of the National Police Agency, remain vacant.
Meanwhile, a closed-door inspection meeting was held at the headquarters regarding Lim Eun-jung, the head of the Gwangju District Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, who has been critical of Kim. Six personnel from the headquarters, including Acting Inspector Heo Seong-hwan, visited the Gwangju office on October 15 to meet with Lim without any accompanying staff.
This inspection was conducted under the direction of Minister of Administrative Safety Yoon Ho-jung, as the headquarters is examining whether Lim's statements violated the obligation of political neutrality and maintaining the dignity of public officials.
Previously, Lim had claimed via social media that Kim had ignored complaints regarding allegations of sexual misconduct against prosecutors during his tenure as the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, asserting that he is unfit for leadership.
On the same day, while paying respects at the National 5.18 Democratic Cemetery, Lim stated, "If there are areas where Kim is wrong, I will continue to voice my criticisms and advice," maintaining her previous stance.
In his written responses during the confirmation hearing, Kim criticized the public criticism of the personnel management of investigative officials as "an inappropriate act that undermines organizational discipline," but expressed his commitment to working together with Lim for the success of the agency after his appointment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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