On the First Day of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency's Launch, Lee Repeatedly Defends Kim Ji-yong Amid 'Pro-Yoon Controversy'

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung said on the 2nd regarding Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency who is at the center of a "pro-Yoon prosecutor" controversy, "I will decide whether to make the final appointment after he first goes through a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly."
Lee Jae Myung wrote this that day on his X account, formerly Twitter, quoting a post criticizing Kim Ji-yong as being "friendly toward pro-Yoon prosecutors."
Lee Jae Myung began by saying, "Things in the world are not that one-dimensional. They are generally very complex," adding, "This is especially true when evaluating people."
Lee Jae Myung stated, "There are various positive and negative factors in determining whether Kim Ji-yong is pro-Yoon," but added, "Given that he was demoted by Yoon Suk Yeol and effectively forced out of the prosecution after ordering a reinvestigation into the case in which Yoon Suk Yeol's mother-in-law was cleared of allegations of suborning perjury, would it not be difficult to conclude that he is pro-Yoon, at least?"
Lee Jae Myung also explained why he decided to send the request for a confirmation hearing on Kim Ji-yong to the National Assembly. He said, "I cannot say that he is a 100% perfect candidate, but he does not appear to be someone who should be denied the National Assembly's opportunity to hold a confirmation hearing by disregarding public recommendations, the independent recommendation committee's selection of a four-person shortlist, and the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior and Safety."
He added, "In light of the results of the additional vetting conducted over an extended period, and given that he was judged to be the best candidate among the four shortlisted by the recommendation committee, it was also inappropriate to request a new recommendation."
Lee Jae Myung reiterated, "I will decide whether to make the final appointment after he first goes through a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly."
He continued, "This is not an arbitrary appointment by the president. It follows the complex and strict procedures and requirements prescribed by law: public recommendations, the recommendation committee's four-person shortlist, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's recommendation, and the National Assembly's confirmation hearing." He added, "Would it not be best for us to watch the hearing results together?"
The previous day, Lee Jae Myung had also posted a series of messages arguing that Kim Ji-yong should not be excluded merely because he was a former prosecutor. Cheong Wa Dae said that the results of additional vetting provided no reason to change its previous assessment and that it planned to send the request for a confirmation hearing on Kim Ji-yong to the National Assembly shortly.
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter