Ministry of the Interior Actively Defends Kim Jiyong, SCIA Chief Nominee: "No Political Controversy Anticipated"

Kim Minjae, SCIA Preparatory Team Chief and Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety
Clarifies Allegations Involving Kim Hak-ui, Jung Jinwoong, and Other Issues
"Qualified Candidate with Investigative Expertise, Fairness, and Neutrality"

Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and head of the Preparatory Committee for the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, is giving a briefing on the first candidate for the head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. During the briefing, Vice Minister Kim addressed controversies related to candidate Kim Jiyong raised by the media and the National Assembly, including the Kim Hak-ui departure incident, Prosecutor Jeong Jinueng's abuse of authority case, opposition to the complete investigation reform, and opposition to the disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. He stated that the public's concerns would not be taken lightly. Photo by Jongjun Cho, 2026.9.17

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety refuted the controversies surrounding Kim Jiyong, the candidate for head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), by presenting facts. With the agency scheduled to launch on October 2 and no confirmation on the parliamentary personnel hearing due to ongoing political debate, the Ministry stepped forward to provide an official explanation.

Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and head of the SCIA Preparatory Team, held a briefing at the Government Seoul Building on the 17th, addressing each allegation related to candidate Kim.

Regarding the claim that candidate Kim approved the indictment in the Kim Hak-ui exit-ban case, Vice Minister Kim explained that three out of the four individuals indicted were prosecuted before Kim assumed his position. For the remaining person, candidate Kim expressed opposition to the indictment during an internal meeting and was not the final decision-maker.

Similarly, with respect to the prosecutor Jung Jinwoong's abuse of authority case, Vice Minister Kim acknowledged that candidate Kim was indeed part of the chain of command, but clarified that the investigation was already underway, Kim had clearly expressed opposition to the indictment, and he was not the final decision-maker.

Vice Minister Kim also rebutted the characterization of Kim as a "pro-Yoon" prosecutor based on his signing of a statement requesting reconsideration of disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and opposition to the reform of prosecution powers. Kim explained that his comments on the disciplinary process were aimed at addressing its procedural inadequacies, and that his opposition to the prosecution reform stemmed from concerns about potential protection gaps for the socially vulnerable and victims.

Kim further noted that candidate Kim ordered a reinvestigation in a case involving an acquaintance of former Prosecutor General Yoon, after determining that a non-prosecution decision was inappropriate. He added that, as a result of handling such cases, some believe Kim was effectively reassigned to the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office following the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which was considered a demotion.

Vice Minister Kim stated, "The SCIA must embody the spirit of prosecution reform and regard human rights protection as its foremost value. Candidate Kim is well qualified for the role, possessing expertise in investigations, fairness, neutrality, and organizational management capability."

Candidate Kim was nominated by the President through a series of steps: public recommendation led by the preparatory team, review and recommendation by the candidate recommendation committee, and submission by the Minister of the Interior and Safety. He must pass the National Assembly personnel hearing to be formally appointed.

Regarding this, Vice Minister Kim said, "Most of the nine members of the candidate recommendation committee were from legal backgrounds—prosecutors, judges, or professors—so many were familiar with the candidates. Through internal discussions, they had not anticipated the current controversies." He further stated, "From the perspective of academia and the legal community, it was thought that the candidate does not lean strongly toward any political ideology and could perform the role of the inaugural SCIA chief without political controversy."

However, Vice Minister Kim emphasized, "I will not take public concerns lightly," and requested that the National Assembly conduct a thorough review of the candidate's qualifications and record during the personnel hearing. He added, "I will take full responsibility to ensure the SCIA launches unwaveringly with the trust of the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.