Government Steps Up to 'Save Kim Ji-hoon'... Aiming to Shake Off 'Pro-Yoon' Controversy and Establish the Serious Crime Investigation Agency Early?

[Financial News] As the controversy surrounding Kim Ji-hoon, the nominee for the first head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, regarding so-called "pro-Yoon and pro-prosecution" tendencies intensifies, the government has stepped in to defend him directly. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), the supervising ministry, even verified Kim's past handling of cases to refute the allegations point by point. This is interpreted as reflecting the government's determination to stabilize the newly established organization by appointing him promptly rather than replacing him, given that the launch of the agency is just two weeks away.
Kim Min-jae, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety and head of the preparatory team for the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul on the 17th and disclosed the facts regarding the controversy surrounding nominee Kim, stating, "We judged nominee Kim to be the right person for the job, as he possesses investigative expertise, fairness and neutrality, and organizational management capabilities."
Some within the ruling party, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, have criticized nominee Kim as a "pro-Yoon and pro-prosecutionist," citing his advocacy for maintaining the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority during the so-called "complete inspection" legislation in 2022 and his participation in a statement by chief prosecutors calling for a reconsideration of the suspension and disciplinary action against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol.
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) explained that Candidate Kim did not oppose the separation of investigation and prosecution itself, but rather argued for the necessity of supplementary investigations out of concern over gaps in the protection of crime victims. Regarding the statement opposing the disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon, the explanation was that he participated not to defend Yoon's actions themselves, but because he judged that parts of the disciplinary procedure were inappropriate.
He also clarified the handling of major past cases. He stated that while it is true that Candidate Kim was on the chain of command for the indictment in the case of the emergency exit ban on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui and the case of Prosecutor Jin-Woong Jeong's abuse of power, he actually opposed the indictment in both cases during internal discussions.
Rather, it was emphasized that Nominee Kim had directed a reinvestigation into the case of a complaint regarding malicious perjury by former Prosecutor General Yoon's relatives, deeming the previous decision not to indict unjust. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) also assessed his transfer to the position of Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office in the first prosecution reshuffle since the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration as "effectively a demotion."
Analysis suggests that the government's decision to step forward to provide an explanation directly, rather than leaving it to the individual candidate, is rooted in the realistic reality that the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is imminent.
The Serious Crime Investigation Agency is set to launch on the 2nd of next month. If Candidate Kim fails to be selected, a new candidate must be sought and vetted, followed by a new confirmation hearing, which increases the likelihood that the organization will launch without an inaugural director.
In particular, unlike the Public Prosecution Office, which is a transition of an existing organization, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is a newly established agency that must build its headquarters, personnel, and investigative command structure from scratch. There is a multitude of matters that the inaugural director must decide immediately after launch, such as assigning cases transferred from the prosecution and redeploying investigative personnel gathered from various agencies. This is why Vice Minister Kim personally emphasized the need for a speedy confirmation hearing process, stating, "I hope the Serious Crime Investigation Agency can launch without a vacancy in the leadership."
In fact, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is accelerating the process of establishing its organizational structure ahead of its launch. Currently, the selection of candidates for special appointments and the placement of personnel are underway, and any shortages will be filled through additional recruitment. Along with internal construction at the temporary headquarters in Euljiro, Seoul, work is also being carried out to separate and secure the database for the joint use of the police's Korea Information System of Criminal Justice Services (KICS).
 
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