'Yoon trauma' shapes battle over new investigative chief

The controversy surrounding Kim Ji-yong's appointment as the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) appears to hinge not solely on his prosecutorial background, but on fears that the new investigative body could become unaccountable to the government and spawn another politically ambitious figure like Yoon Suk Yeol.

This anxiety stems from the political ramifications of Yoon's previous career. As a prosecutor general under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, Yoon's investigations into figures associated with the president catapulted him into national prominence and made him a potent symbol of resistance against political power. This image later proved instrumental in his presidential campaign.

For those in the ruling camp, Yoon's trajectory demonstrated how one investigator could leverage legal authority and high-profile cases for political gain. The separation of investigation and prosecution, therefore, may be viewed with suspicion, as there is a perception that the new SCIA could operate beyond government control and produce another politically potent individual akin to Yoon.