Kim Jiyong: "Yoon Suk Yeol Is No. 1 Political Prosecutor... Can't Deny Han Donghoon Either"

Oct. 14 confirmation hearing for Kim Jiyong, nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Bureau
Distances himself from the “pro-Yoon” controversy raised mainly by the ruling bloc

Kim Jiyong, nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), named former President Yoon Suk Yeol and independent lawmaker Han Donghoon as “political prosecutors,” the targets of prosecution reform. His remarks are seen as an effort to distance himself from allegations, raised mainly by the ruling bloc, that he is a Yoon loyalist.

At a confirmation hearing before the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on October 14, lawmaker Park Deokheum of the People Power Party asked Kim, “If you had to name the ‘No. 1’ political prosecutor targeted by prosecution reform, who would it be?” Kim replied, “I think former President Yoon Suk Yeol was the first to have a negative influence.”

When Park followed up by asking, “Then wouldn’t lawmaker Han Donghoon also be the person most closely connected to him?” Kim said, “I think it would be difficult to deny that.” Asked whether he acknowledged that the prosecution had become a target of reform because of so-called “political prosecutors” swayed by political power, he replied, “That is part of the reason.”

Kim Jiyong, nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, answers lawmakers' questions during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on October 14, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju.

The hearing also examined the allegations that Kim is a Yoon loyalist. Asked by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sangsik, “Are you a pro-Yoon prosecutor?” Kim said, “I have no professional or personal connection with former President Yoon.”

Asked about his opposition to the suspension from duties and disciplinary action sought against Yoon when he was prosecutor general, Kim explained, “The reason I signed a petition opposing the disciplinary action and order to exclude him from his duties at the time was not to protect any individual or organization. It was because I believed there were problems with the process that led to the order to exclude him from his duties.”

In 2020, Kim joined a group statement urging then-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae to reconsider her order suspending then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol from his duties and her request for disciplinary action against him. The move prompted controversy over whether Kim was a “pro-Yoon prosecutor.” When Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Gwanghee asked whether his judgment at the time had been appropriate, Kim replied, “I think it was appropriate at the time.”

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