Lee Takes Direct Approach on Kim Jiyong Appointment... Blue House to Request National Assembly Hearing

Appointment Process Continues Despite Ruling Party Concerns

"No Changes from Initial Vetting Even After Additional Review"

Point-by-Point Rebuttal of Pro-Yoon Ties, Jeong Jinwoong Prosecution, Kim Hakui, and Channel A Allegations

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The Blue House announced that it will submit a request to the National Assembly for a confirmation hearing for Kim Jiyong, the nominee for the inaugural Commissioner of the Central Investigation Headquarters. Although some members within the ruling party raised concerns about Kim's past career as a prosecutor and called for the withdrawal of his nomination, the Blue House's final assessment was that no new issues had emerged during the additional vetting that would overturn the original personnel review results.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on October 1, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

On October 1, Sung Ki-hong, Chief of Public Relations and Communication at the Blue House, stated in a briefing, "We have looked into the newly raised suspicions, but nothing has changed from the original vetting results," adding, "At this stage, it would not be appropriate to deprive the nominee of the opportunity to explain himself at a National Assembly confirmation hearing." This decision comes about three weeks after President Lee Jae-myung nominated Kim on September 8 and subsequent additional screenings began. Kim Jiyong was among four finalists—three former prosecutors and one former judge—selected from 23 candidates who had been recommended by the public and screened by the candidate recommendation committee. Following this, the Minister of the Interior and Safety recommended Kim's appointment as the head of the Central Investigation Headquarters.

The Blue House also thoroughly refuted the main allegations surrounding Kim on this day. First, regarding the assertion that Kim is a "pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) prosecutor," the Blue House dismissed it as "completely untrue." They cited that Kim was promoted to chief prosecutor during the tenure of then-Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae in 2020 and, while serving as director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2021, issued an order for a renewed investigation into the perjury case involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol's mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon.

Regarding Kim’s participation in the statement questioning the suspension and disciplinary action against then-Prosecutor General Yoon, the Blue House explained that his concern was not with the disciplinary action itself but rather with procedural flaws. Sung stated, "The nominee held, and still holds, a firm position that the Prosecutor General’s conduct amounted to a violation."

The claim that Kim forced the prosecution of Jeong Jin-woong, then deputy chief prosecutor, in a case involving prosecutorial misconduct was also denied. As then-deputy chief at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Kim Jiyong actually opposed the indictment, and the Blue House explained that he similarly objected to the indictment of former Presidential Civil Affairs Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol in the case concerning the illegal travel ban of former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui.

Regarding the claim that Kim rejected the forensic analysis of former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon's mobile phone in connection to the "Channel A incident," the Blue House asserted that this was "clearly false." The investigation was independently conducted by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and both the forensic analysis and investigation fell under the purview of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's investigation team and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's forensic science department, making it impossible for Kim, then director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to have been involved in that process.

Kim Jiyong, Nominee for Chief of the Central Investigation Headquarters, Responding to Reporters' Questions Photo by Yonhap News

The Blue House also refuted the claim from some within the ruling party that "the head of the Central Investigation Headquarters should not be a former prosecutor." Sung stated, "Not every prosecutor is a bad prosecutor," adding, "Just because there have been some bad prosecutors does not mean all prosecutors should be excluded from key state functions. That is not reform, but destruction under the pretense of reform."

He continued, "Rather than unconditionally excluding candidates based on their background, we need to comprehensively consider investigative expertise that can help the Central Investigation Headquarters settle quickly into the new criminal justice system," emphasizing that "since the Public Prosecution Headquarters will have no investigative authority at all, the investigative command capabilities and qualifications of the Central Investigation Headquarters chief are extremely important."

He added, "There will not be a regression to the past by reversing the reform goal of having separate agencies for investigation and prosecution," and "the Central Investigation Headquarters and the Public Prosecution Headquarters must each realize judicial reform through mutual checks and balances."

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