President Lee engages in overnight social media back-and-forth over Kim Ji-yong's selection: "Park Eun-jung and Lee Sung-yoon are also former prosecutors"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung responded repeatedly overnight to social media users who opposed the selection of Kim Ji-yong as nominee to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. Referring to lawmakers Park Eun-jung and Lee Sung-yoon, as well as Senior Prosecutor Lim Eun-jung, he said that someone cannot be excluded from leading an investigative agency solely because they are a former prosecutor.
According to President Lee's X account, formerly Twitter, on the 1st, he posted responses late on the night of the 30th of last month and early the following morning, each quoting posts by users who opposed Kim's appointment. After disputing claims in the earlier post that Kim was a "pro-Yoon" figure, he used the second post to explain his views on excluding former prosecutors and the goals of prosecution reform.
Early on the 1st, President Lee responded to a user's post opposing Kim's appointment out of concern for the future of the country and the president. He wrote, "Many people are probably doing this because they are genuinely concerned about me or the country's future."
He continued, "If we are to discard everyone simply because they are former prosecutors, what would become of Rep. Park Eun-jung, Senior Prosecutor Lim Eun-jung and Rep. Lee Sung-yoon, all of whom are either prosecutors or former prosecutors?"
He went on to ask, "If we say that a former prosecutor with expertise in investigations should not be appointed to lead an important investigative agency simply because he is a former prosecutor, that is tantamount to saying we should ruin the Serious Crime Investigation Agency." He added, "If the Serious Crime Investigation Agency fails to perform its functions, what will become of the country's order and the safety of its people?"
Regarding the purpose of prosecution reform, he stated, "The goal is not to seek revenge against the prosecution or to destroy it, is it? Isn't it to separate investigations from prosecutions, ensure they are never again abused by a government, and have investigations and prosecutions conducted properly?"
He also stressed, "Whether it concerns state affairs or prosecution reform, it must not be about resolving personal feelings or grievances, nor should it serve the interests of a particular person or group."
Explaining the selection of Kim, President Lee said, "Kim Ji-yong is not someone the president decides on at will." An independent recommendations committee shortlisted four people from among those who had received public recommendations and recommended them. After consultations, the minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety formally submitted Kim's nomination.
President Lee said, "During the consultation process, Kim Ji-yong was judged to be the most suitable of the four recommended candidates." He added, "Because there were claims opposing Kim Ji-yong, including that he was a pro-Yoon prosecutor, we conducted extensive additional vetting. The claims were found to be mostly untrue or even absurdly fabricated falsehoods."
He said a decision remained on whether to replace the candidate. President Lee wrote, "Even if there are some problems, the recommendation process prescribed by law must not be ignored." He continued, "Whether there are grounds to submit a new recommendation and whether any of the remaining three candidates could replace Kim Ji-yong remain matters for consideration and judgment."
The previous night, President Lee had also responded to a user's post opposing Kim's appointment and referring to him as a "pro-Yoon political prosecutor." President Lee said, "State affairs belong to all citizens and must therefore be objective and fair." He added, "People may criticize or offer advice on state affairs as much as they wish, but it will have meaning as genuine criticism and advice only when it is based on facts."
President Lee emphasized, "Setting everything else aside, it is difficult to understand criticizing someone like this simply because he is a pro-Yoon prosecutor." He added, "I am the biggest victim of the politically driven prosecution under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and ensuring that such a thing never happens again is one of this government's top priorities."
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