Yun Kun-young: "Kim Ji-yong is a prospective son-in-law rumored to be odd ... The ruling party must scrutinize him rigorously too"

[Financial News] Although President Lee Jae-myung approved the request for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, discontent within the ruling party has yet to subside. Yun Kun-young, a pro-Moon lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who serves on the National Assembly Security and Public Administration Committee overseeing the agency, reaffirmed his opposition on the 2nd. He likened the agency to his "only daughter, whom he had raised like a precious jewel," and Kim to a "prospective son-in-law rumored to be odd in the neighborhood."
Appearing that day on the YouTube program "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory: Humility Is Hard," Yun said of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, which launched that day, "I have worked on this since the Roh Moo-hyun administration, so this is finally the day when the Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung administrations' efforts come to fruition." He continued, "It should be a day of boundless joy—a day of celebration—but it doesn't feel like one." Asked about his position on Kim, he stated firmly, "To put it simply, I oppose him."
Some in the ruling camp have viewed Kim unfavorably because of his record during his time in the prosecution and his stance on prosecutorial reform. Some members of the Democratic Party of Korea have criticized him as a "pro-Yoon political prosecutor," citing his inclusion in a statement by senior prosecutors opposing disciplinary action against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol, the indictment of prosecutor Jin-Woong Jeong in connection with former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and his position in the chain of command during the case involving an illegal travel ban imposed on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui. His past opposition to measures such as abolishing supplemental investigative powers also fueled controversy over whether he was suitable to become the agency's inaugural chief.
Kim, however, denies being pro-Yoon. He maintains that he left the prosecution after being sidelined in the first personnel reshuffle following the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and that he was never regarded as a particular individual's close aide or given personnel-related favors. He has also explained that his past opposition to abolishing supplemental investigative powers was intended to protect victims, not to preserve the prosecution's authority.
President Lee has also directly rebutted the claim that Kim is a "pro-Yoon prosecutor." The point was that it would be difficult to label Kim pro-Yoon because he was promoted to chief prosecutor under the Moon Jae-in administration but sidelined under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The Blue House also decided to submit Kim for a parliamentary confirmation hearing after conducting additional vetting.
On the matter, Yun said, "I don't want to back down from my position either," but added, "The Blue House has stepped in and conducted an additional review, saying it would recommend him to the president. I believe we must respect the president's appointment authority."
Instead, Yun said he would thoroughly examine Kim's qualifications during the confirmation hearing before the Security and Public Administration Committee. "I intend to examine it very closely—the path he has taken," Yun said. "This time, I think we need a more intense debate. The public needs to see what lies beneath the surface."
He particularly cautioned against ruling-party lawmakers taking a passive approach to the vetting simply because Kim was nominated by the president. Yun said, "I think most lawmakers in our party may tacitly say nothing and simply take a passive approach." He continued, "I hope they won't. What I'm saying now is that I'm telling my colleagues I hope they won't do that." He emphasized, "The vetting should be more rigorous and more detailed so the public can see it," adding, "The president should also make a judgment based on that assessment."
[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter