Kim Ji-yong: "It's Not True That I Refused a Forensic Examination of Han Dong-hoon's Phone"... Also Denies Favoritism in Investigation of Yoon's Relatives

[Financial News] Kim Ji-yong, nominee to become the first chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, pushed back against claims that he refused a forensic examination of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's mobile phone during a past investigation. He also explained that approving a non-prosecution disposition in a case involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol's relatives was unavoidable because the statute of limitations was nearing expiration, rejecting claims that he had granted them preferential treatment.
The confirmation hearing preparation team for the nominee to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency said in a press notice on the 23rd, "The claim that the nominee refused a forensic examination of lawmaker Han's phone is not true."
The allegation arose in connection with Kim's service as head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO) when Han was investigated over the so-called "prosecutor-media collusion" allegation involving a Channel A reporter.
The preparation team said, "The Channel A case was investigated independently by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in accordance with the justice minister's directive in or around July 2020 removing the prosecutor general's authority to direct the investigation. The nominee, who took office as head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the SPO in or around June 2021, had no involvement whatsoever in the case."
It added that the forensic examination of Han's mobile phone was also handled by the investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Scientific Investigation Department of the SPO, explaining that Kim was not involved.
The preparation team also rejected criticism that Kim had ultimately approved a non-prosecution disposition in a case in which relatives of former President Yoon Suk Yeol had been accused. It said, "It was unavoidable given that the statute of limitations was nearing expiration," adding, "The nominee continued working to establish the truth of the matter, including by ordering a reinvestigation and refusing to approve a non-prosecution disposition once."
According to the preparation team, Kim took office as head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the SPO in June 2021 and inherited the case from his predecessor. Since the statute of limitations was scheduled to expire on November 15 of that year, he prioritized reviewing the case and ordered a reinvestigation on July 1, about 20 days after taking office.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which began the reinvestigation, submitted a recommendation for non-prosecution to the SPO on October 25 of the same year. The preparation team said Kim rejected it three days later, determining that additional investigation was necessary.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office subsequently conducted additional questioning of the complainant and others before submitting another recommendation for non-prosecution in November. The preparation team explained that Kim ultimately accepted the recommendation on November 5 after determining that further investigation would be difficult because only about 10 days remained before the statute of limitations expired.
As the so-called "pro-Yoon prosecutor" controversy surrounding Kim continued, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and the confirmation hearing preparation team held a separate briefing on the 17th to reject allegations surrounding the handling of past cases. With additional allegations subsequently raised by some members of the ruling party, the preparation team has once again offered an explanation.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter