Yoon Ho-jung, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, stated on October 6 that Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, possesses sufficient investigative capabilities and is the ideal candidate who will not be swayed by external pressures.
During a National Assembly audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Yoon responded to a question from Chae Hyun-il, a member of the Democratic Party, regarding the decisive reasons for recommending Kim. Yoon said, "I judged him to be the most suitable among those recommended by the public."
He particularly noted, "Above all, he has experience in investigations from his time in the prosecution, has maintained his stance according to law and principles at critical junctures, and has not been influenced by external pressures."
Chae also referenced the Chinese proverb "black cat, white cat; as long as it catches mice, it doesn't matter" to emphasize that what is needed in the chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is ability rather than past actions. After Yoon's remarks, he added, "The most important thing for the chief is investigation. He must have capability, experience, and good situational judgment," reiterating the relevance of the proverb.
Chae praised Kim as a candidate who has undergone public recommendation, ministerial nomination, and two rounds of external verification by the Blue House. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the upcoming confirmation hearing, scheduled for October 14 during the National Assembly audit period, proceeds smoothly so that the agency, despite having opened on October 2 without a leader, can be effectively managed.
Yoon nominated Kim, a former prosecutor, as the first chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency on September 7, and the following day, President Lee Jae-myung appointed 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 based on Kim's past record, leading to the agency opening without a head.
The confirmation request for Kim was submitted to the National Assembly on October 2 after receiving presidential approval the day before.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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