"Kim Ji-hoon Opposes Indictment of Kim Hak-ui and Jin-Woong Jeong... Not Opposed to Separation of Investigation and Prosecution"

[Financial News] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) has issued an official clarification regarding the controversy surrounding Kim Ji-hoon, the nominee for the first Commissioner of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, regarding his alleged "pro-Yoon and pro-prosecution" stance. The Ministry explained that Kim's opposition to the so-called "complete separation of investigation and prosecution" stemmed not from the separation of investigation and prosecution itself, but from concerns about a potential gap in the protection of crime victims. It further stated that Kim also opposed prosecution in the cases involving the exit ban on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui and the assault case involving Prosecutor Jin-Woong Jeong. The Ministry also revealed that Kim ordered a reinvestigation into a case involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol's relatives, deeming the decision not to prosecute unjust, and that he was subsequently "effectively demoted" during the first reshuffle of the prosecution under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Kim Min-jae, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety and Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency Preparatory Team, held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul on the 17th and stated the following regarding the controversy raised over nominee Kim's past actions and his stance on prosecution reform.
On the 7th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety recommended Kim Ji-hoon to the President as the first head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, respecting the recommendation of the Agency's Candidate Recommendation Committee. However, following the recommendation, controversy has persisted regarding Kim Ji-hoon's conduct during his tenure in the prosecution service and his stance on prosecution reform. Given that Kim Ji-hoon had publicly stated during his time in the prosecution service that the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority should be maintained, voices within the Democratic Party of Korea have called for further verification of the candidate's position on the separation of investigation and prosecution and prosecution reform.
Cheong Wa Dae announced that President Lee Jae Myung had decided to nominate Kim Ji-hoon and planned to request a confirmation hearing from the National Assembly; however, as of the 17th, the request for a hearing has not been made after President Lee subsequently ordered additional vetting.
Against this backdrop, the fact that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the recommending authority, directly clarified the major controversies through a briefing by the Vice Minister is interpreted as demonstrating that the government's existing judgment regarding Kim Ji-hoon as the right person for the first Commissioner position remains intact, even after further verification.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety devoted a significant portion of the briefing on this day to clarifying the controversy. Vice Minister Kim stated that various questions and concerns are being raised regarding the nominee's past conduct and his stance on prosecution reform, adding, "We take the voices of the people very seriously." He further announced that he would explain the facts confirmed so far regarding the controversies and suspicions raised by the media and the National Assembly.
Kim Ji-hoon also refuted the criticism that he approved the indictment of those involved in the case of the emergency exit ban on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, three of the four individuals indicted in this case were already investigated and indicted before Kim Ji-hoon assumed his post as the Head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO), the command line for the case. Vice Minister Kim explained, "Regarding the remaining individual, Kim Ji-hoon expressed opposition to the indictment during an internal prosecution meeting and was not the final decision-maker." However, he stated that it is difficult to disclose the specific internal decision-making process of the prosecution.
Kim Ji-hoon also refuted the claim that he decided to indict Prosecutor Jin-Woong Jeong in the case of official misconduct and assault. Prosecutor Jin-Woong Jeong is the figure who conducted an internal investigation into former Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon at the time regarding a Channel A reporter's violation of journalistic ethics.
Vice Minister Kim explained, "It is true that Kim Ji-hoon was in the chain of command for the indictment at the time as the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office," adding, "However, the investigation was already underway when Kim Ji-hoon took office, and Kim Ji-hoon clearly expressed his opposition to the indictment from the standpoint of an aide." He also stated that Kim Ji-hoon was not the final decision-maker regarding the indictment.
He also explained his past history of participating in a statement regarding the suspension of former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol's duties and the request for disciplinary action. He stated, "Kim Ji-hoon believed that former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol's actions at the time could constitute misconduct, but judged that the procedural process of the disciplinary measures was partially inappropriate, so he participated in a statement calling for a reconsideration of the suspension and disciplinary action."
Vice Minister Kim presented the fact that Kim Ji-hoon had ordered a reinvestigation into a case involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol's relatives. He stated that after reviewing the records of the criminal complaint case against Yoon Suk Yeol's relatives, which had been closed with a decision not to indict, Kim Ji-hoon ordered a reinvestigation after determining that the decision was unjust. Regarding this, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that it "confirmed that the investigation was conducted strictly and fairly based on the evidence."
He also mentioned the subsequent personnel path. Vice Minister Kim stated, "Kim Ji-hoon was appointed as the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office in the first prosecution reshuffle following the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," and characterized this as "effectively a demotion," citing the fact that this is a position typically assigned to newly promoted chief prosecutors. He added that there are opinions suggesting that the handling of the case involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol's relatives influenced this personnel decision.
In addition, regarding his past opposition to the so-called 'complete separation of investigation and prosecution,' Kim Ji-hoon explained that he did not oppose the intent of separating investigation and prosecution itself.
While serving as the Head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO), Kim Ji-hoon announced his opposition to the so-called 'complete separation of investigation and prosecution.' Regarding this, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that Kim Ji-hoon was concerned at the time that a vacuum could occur if the system were changed without sufficient measures in place to protect the rights of the socially vulnerable and crime victims.
Vice Minister Kim stated, "We will by no means take the public's concerns lightly," and urged, "I ask that the nominee personally explain his qualifications, capabilities, past record, and key issues during the upcoming confirmation hearing, and that the National Assembly rigorously verify them."

[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter