Kim Min-seok: “Kim Ji-yong has been criticized enough; now the nominee should be vetted at the confirmation hearing”

[Financial News] Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Kim Min-seok again urged restraint on the 7th amid criticism within the ruling party of Kim Ji-yong, nominee to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, saying, “I think it would be better to address the matter through the confirmation hearing once everyone has sufficiently expressed their individual views.”
Appearing that day on the DPK’s YouTube program “Minty07,” Kim addressed party members’ calls for disciplinary action against some lawmakers who had criticized the nominee. “I said that it was time for the party to rein in this issue,” he said, adding, “I understand that they have already made their views sufficiently clear and will not say anything further about it.”
Earlier, a series of public objections had been raised within the party over the nomination. Critics said that the nominee did not align with the government and ruling party’s push for prosecutorial reform, citing, among other things, the nominee’s past opposition to separating investigations from indictments. The previous day, DPK lawmaker Park Ju-min also questioned the nominee’s philosophy on prosecutorial reform and announced plans to thoroughly vet the nominee at the confirmation hearing on the 14th.
Kim had also said the previous day on “Minty07,” “We have met most of the demands made by those who strongly advocated prosecutorial reform, and in some respects have gone further.” He added, “If there are concerns that excessive demands or claims, at a time when we should be focusing on reforms to improve people’s livelihoods, could—as in the past—damage the entire reform effort, its camp, ranks and front, and even the president’s own leadership, then it is time for the party to rein things in somewhat.”
Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Kim had also called for restraint over public objections to the nominee’s selection, saying that it was appropriate for ruling-party lawmakers to express their views on personnel matters within the party. At the time, he stressed, in effect, “Once a final decision is made, I respect the appointing authority’s view. Otherwise, one should not be part of the ruling party.”
The confirmation hearing for Kim is scheduled for the 14th, following a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Security and Public Administration Committee on the 7th.

[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter