Kim Ji-yong attends Cabinet meeting for first time... President Lee: “Investigate without regard to whose side they’re on”

[Financial News] On the 20th, President Lee Jae-myung urged the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to “investigate without regard to whose side anyone is on, and without any sacred cows, by mobilizing all your investigative capabilities to deal with crimes sternly, thereby demonstrating to the public the purpose and necessity of the agency.”
President Lee made the remarks at the 45th Cabinet meeting, held that day at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae, referring to white-collar crime, power-related corruption, and securities and financial crimes. Kim Ji-yong, chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, attended a Cabinet meeting for the first time since his appointment.
In his opening remarks, Kim said, “I will do my utmost to successfully establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, complete prosecution reform, and protect the rights and interests of the people.”
President Lee said, “Prosecution reform has now been institutionally completed, with investigations and prosecutions fully separated and the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency placed under different ministries.” He added, “As the agency is setting out anew as an independent body investigating serious crimes, it seems to need a renewed sense of purpose and commitment.”
He added, “As a newly established institution, it will likely have many shortcomings,” but stressed, “I ask you to address the concerns and anxieties our people have about prosecution reform and to carry out swiftly and rigorously the crucial task of fairly maintaining the minimum order needed in society.”
A day before the 81st Police Day, President Lee said, “With the reform of the criminal justice system—the first in around 70 years to fully separate investigations and prosecutions—the role and responsibilities of the police have become more consequential than ever.” He added, “No matter how much their authority grows, without the public’s trust, it is no more than a house of cards.”
He urged all police personnel to remember that “all public authority stems from the trust of the people,” and said, “I ask you to do your utmost to improve the fairness, transparency, and accountability of investigations and to establish robust systems for internal self-correction and external oversight.”
Regarding recent relationship-related crimes and indiscriminate knife attacks, he said, “We must take extraordinary measures to ensure that the lives and safety of the people are no longer threatened by antisocial violent crimes.” He called for early detection of warning signs, proactive prevention, and systems to protect and support victims, and stressed that hacking, illegal private lending, entrenched local corruption, voice phishing, drug crimes, and other offenses must also be met with a zero-tolerance approach.
He also called for increased budgets and staffing for public safety. Expressing his condolences for the late Kim Jin-seok, a fire officer whose funeral was held the day before, President Lee said, “From now on, the state will be your family and a steadfast pillar of support.” He also wished the injured firefighters a speedy recovery.
President Lee said, “A major overhaul and reinforcement of core functions for public safety—including firefighting, policing, disaster prevention, and healthcare—seems necessary.” He added, “I ask you to comprehensively and thoroughly reassess the relevant systems so that the safety of frontline personnel, as well as that of people facing danger, can be fully protected.”
He stressed, “We must move beyond past practices, increase budgets and staffing, and take a proactive approach to effective institutional improvements.” Regarding facilities where crowds gather and structures such as bridges, he also said, “I wonder if it might be worth carrying out extensive safety inspections.”
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