Lee formally appoints inaugural chief of agency in charge of major investigations
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday formally appointed the inaugural chief of the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which is in charge of major investigations under the interior ministry. Lee approved the appointment after a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for longtime prosecutor Kim Ji-yong, 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung…
President Lee Jae Myung officially appointed Kim Ji-yong as the first chief of the newly created Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) on Thursday. SCIA is responsible for major investigations under the interior ministry. Lee's decision came after a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for Kim, 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended him for the position on September 7.
The National Assembly's public administration and security committee approved the report the following day, following Kim's confirmation hearing.
The confirmation hearing report contained both positive and negative assessments of Kim's qualifications for the role. However, some lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) opposed his nomination, arguing that it could hinder prosecution reform. They cited his background as a prosecutor under the previous administration led by Yoon Suk Yeol. The Lee administration had requested additional vetting of Kim, and the presidential office later stated that allegations against him had been addressed.
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