Kim Ji-yong, Nominee to Head Serious Crimes Investigation Agency: “I’ll Ensure No One Is Wronged ... and Conduct Thorough Supplementary Investigations”

[Financial News] Kim Ji-yong, nominated to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency as its first chief, stressed that he would accomplish four key tasks, including conducting thorough supplementary investigations and ensuring expertise, political neutrality and independence.
Kim attended a confirmation hearing before the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 14th and delivered opening remarks outlining these points. The hearing was held 37 days after President Lee Jae-myung nominated him on September 7.
“In keeping with the separation of investigations and prosecutions, I will make human rights my top priority and ensure that no one is unfairly treated during an investigation,” Kim said. “I will not repeat practices that concern the public, such as politically targeted investigations, fishing expeditions and investigations conducted with prosecution in mind.”
He also addressed the challenges of running the agency in its early days. The agency launched on the 2nd but is reportedly struggling to get organized because the chief’s post is vacant and it is short-staffed.
“I will make it an investigative agency with specialized capabilities in investigating serious crimes,” Kim said. “We will actively recruit outstanding personnel from prosecutors’ offices and the police, as well as private-sector experts, and build specialized capabilities in serious-crime investigations through systematic training and by advancing our forensic capabilities.”
He also emphasized supplementary investigations, which have emerged as a key issue. “I will ensure there are no gaps in victim protection by conducting thorough supplementary investigations into crimes against socially vulnerable people,” he said. “I have previously voiced concern that abolishing the prosecution’s authority to conduct supplementary investigations without adequate alternatives could create gaps in protecting victims of crime.”
“My consistent conviction is that the criminal justice system exists to protect people’s lives and safety, and that there must not be even the slightest neglect in protecting victims,” he said. “I will ensure that socially vulnerable people are fully protected from crime through thorough supplementary investigations.”
He added, “I will conduct investigations fairly while upholding political neutrality and independence. I will not be swayed by outside pressure and will investigate fairly, guided solely by the law and principles.”
Both the ruling and opposition parties have signaled that they will scrutinize Kim thoroughly. Divisions continue within the ruling camp over his past opposition to prosecutorial reform and the “pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk Yeol) controversy,” while the opposition, which has opposed separating investigations from prosecutions, has also said it will scrutinize his political neutrality.
[email protected] Lee Chang-hoon Reporter