[2026 Audit] Yoon Hojoong on Launching SCIO Without a Chief: "I Am Sorry" in Response to Calls for Apology

October 6, Audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Yoon Ho-joong, Minister of the Interior and Safety, apologized, saying he was "sorry" for the fact that the inaugural Serious Crimes Investigation Office (SCIO) was launched without a head.

Yonhap News Agency

This apology came in response to criticism that the SCIO was launched without a chief because the formal request for a confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, the first nominee for the position of SCIO chief, was made only about 20 days after his nomination was announced.

On October 6, during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Assemblyman Kwon Young-jin of the People Power Party asked, "With the SCIO replacing the Prosecutors' Office and being launched without a chief, shouldn't you, as the minister, apologize for the anxiety and concerns this has caused among the public?" To this question, Minister Yoon replied, "I am sorry."

Kim Ji-yong was nominated by President Lee Jaemyung on September 8, following a recommendation from Minister Yoon on September 7. However, the official request for a confirmation hearing was not submitted to the National Assembly until October 2, after being approved by the president on October 1. After Kim's nomination, additional verification procedures were carried out amid continuing issues regarding his past career as a prosecutor.

Minister Yoon also apologized for the delay in submitting the request for a confirmation hearing.

He stated, "We had intended to complete the confirmation hearing and appointment procedure before the launch, but matters did not go as planned. I apologize for submitting the request for a confirmation hearing late."

Earlier, Assemblyman Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea also expressed concern over the launch of the SCIO without a chief. In response, Minister Yoon said, "This is a momentous personnel appointment involving a major overhaul of the criminal justice system for the first time in 70 years. To avoid any shortcomings and to address any issues raised, we proceeded step by step, carefully reviewing matters before formally requesting a confirmation hearing."

Issues regarding personnel staffing at the SCIO were also brought up. Minister Yoon explained that, out of the 2,874 approved positions at the SCIO, 1,900 have been filled so far, representing 66% of the total workforce.

He said, "Some have said that too many positions remain unfilled, but we plan to fill another 15% through recruitment of experienced individuals such as former police officers, attorneys, and accountants, and the remaining 10% will be reserved for new hires next year."

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