President Lee on agency chief Kim Ji-yong’s first day at work: “Investigate rigorously, regardless of friend or foe”

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung said on the 16th, “I congratulate and encourage the launch of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency together with the people,” adding, “As the agency has launched after a difficult national process, I hope you will dispel distrust and concerns in some quarters and be sure to prove its significance and necessity through your performance and achievements.”
That day, President Lee shared on X (formerly Twitter) an article reporting that Kim Ji-yong, the agency’s inaugural chief, had begun his first day on the job, and wrote as follows.
President Lee said, “There are mixed concerns and expectations about the system separating investigations from prosecutions, newly launched after several decades since the establishment of the government, and especially about the agency,” and stressed, “I hope you will investigate serious crimes—including corruption crimes that destroy the lives of ordinary people living honest lives and are committed by powerful people, white-collar crime, and financial and securities crimes—swiftly and rigorously, regardless of friend or foe, and impartially, with a sense of historical responsibility and unwavering courage.”
He added, “Together with the people, I will trust and keep watch over Chief Kim Ji-yong and all the agency’s investigators.”
Earlier, President Lee approved the appointment of Kim Ji-yong, nominee for the agency’s inaugural chief, after the National Assembly adopted the confirmation hearing report the previous day. The appointment of the agency’s first chief was finalized 13 days after it launched on the 2nd.

[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter