SCIA chief nominee vows to end 'politicization' of investigations
The nominee to lead the newly launched Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) pledged Thursday to end the "politicization" of investigations and to maintain their independence. The SCIA launched last Friday as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that strips prosecutors of their power to conduct direct investigations amid criticism that they had pursued political probes.…
Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to lead the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), vowed on Thursday to eliminate the politicization of investigations and safeguard the agency's independence. The SCIA was launched last Friday as part of a significant overhaul of the criminal justice system that removes prosecutors' authority to conduct direct investigations, following criticism that they had pursued politically motivated probes.
Kim assured reporters that he would "first put an end to the politicization of investigations." He acknowledged the current situation as a result of the prosecution's past conduct of "targeted, dirt-digging probes with political purposes, leading to numerous harms." Kim pledged to ensure the new agency "firmly protects political neutrality and the independence of investigations."
His nomination is set for a parliamentary confirmation hearing next Wednesday, but faces opposition from some ruling Democratic Party of Korea hardliners who claim the nominee had previously opposed the establishment of SCIA.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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