(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Sept. 17)

President Lee Jae Myung recently ordered additional vetting of Kim Ji-yong, who he had nominated to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency set to launch soon. This move has raised questions about the initial vetting process and whether President Lee's decision was influenced by strong backlash from hard-liners within his ruling party.

Democratic Party lawmakers, such as Park Ju-min and Kim Yong-min, have called for the nomination to be withdrawn. Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, a former Democratic Party member, criticized the nomination, questioning whether having someone with a similar background to Han Dong-hoon as the founding head of the agency would truly promote democratization.

Critics are concerned that the additional vetting might be motivated by political loyalty instead of strictly assessing investigative expertise and maintaining independence. The head of the agency must be able to handle politically sensitive cases according to the law and evidence, regardless of the involvement of ruling or opposition parties.

This situation has intensified as President Lee's approval rating has declined, with pressure from within his own party and public anxiety about potential increases in crime rates due to staff shortages and reduced prosecutor assignments.