Kim Ji-yong, head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, is set to meet with Lee Jeong-hyeon, the acting Prosecutor General, on October 30. This meeting marks the first official encounter between the leaders of the two agencies since the separation of investigation and prosecution duties, highlighting the need for collaboration between them. Both officials have recently addressed concerns regarding political neutrality in relation to their participation in a State Council meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung.
According to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, Kim will visit the Public Prosecution Service headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for the meeting at 2 p.m. This will be their first formal meeting since the establishment of the two agencies on October 2. Previously, they met twice during the State Council meetings chaired by President Lee.
The meeting is expected to serve as an opportunity to exchange greetings and confirm their willingness to cooperate. There are several issues that require discussion, including the transfer of case records, recruitment of personnel, and the handover of investigative equipment previously used by the prosecution. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is currently in the process of receiving forensic equipment from the National Digital Forensic Center of the Public Prosecution Service.
Another contentious issue is the authority to accept applications for the leniency program for whistleblowers in collusion cases. The Public Prosecution Service argues that since this program is based on the discretion of prosecutors, it should handle the application process and provisional ranking. In contrast, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency believes that accepting applications and assigning provisional rankings falls under investigative activities, which should be managed by them, while the Public Prosecution Service should determine whether to prosecute and the extent of any sentence reduction. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency has stated it will closely consult with the Public Prosecution Service regarding the application process.
However, it remains unclear whether specific agreements will be reached on these issues during the meeting. A representative from the Public Prosecution Service indicated that the meeting would likely focus more on pleasantries rather than detailed discussions on matters like leniency.
The meeting also takes place against the backdrop of ongoing debates about the political neutrality of investigative and prosecutorial agencies. During a recent National Assembly audit, concerns were raised that their attendance at the State Council could influence the handling of individual cases.
On October 22, during the National Assembly Legislative Judiciary Committee audit, Lee was asked whether he received a request from President Lee regarding the dismissal of charges in a specific case during their lunch. He responded that he had not received such a request and denied instructing the Public Prosecution Service to review the dismissal of charges. He also stated that he would convey concerns about potential breaches of fairness and neutrality to the Ministry of Justice.
Kim also acknowledged public concerns regarding their attendance at the State Council during a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee on October 26. When asked if he would be able to refrain from answering if the President inquired about a specific case in a private setting, he expressed confidence in his ability to do so.
In previous written responses during his confirmation hearing, Kim stated that decisions regarding the dismissal of charges in individual cases should be made by the Public Prosecution Service based on law and principles. As of now, it has not been confirmed whether the issue of charge dismissal will be on the agenda for this meeting.
Details regarding the expected duration of the meeting, attendees from both sides, and the extent of media access have not been disclosed. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency plans to share the outcomes of the discussions after the meeting concludes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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