Kim Jiyong's Confirmation Hearing Report Likely to Be Adopted... Yoon Geonyoung, Park Joomin: "Now It's the President's Turn"

The committee is expected to convene at 2 p.m. and vote
Kim Youngjin: "I concluded he has the ability to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency"
Yoon Geonyoung: "The president should listen to the public"

The confirmation hearing report on Kim Ji-yong, nominee to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), is expected to be adopted by the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee on the afternoon of October 15. Although some members of the ruling party raised questions about Kim's past, consensus has formed around moving forward with the report.

The committee had initially planned to hold a plenary meeting at 10 a.m. today to adopt the report before an audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. However, it postponed the adoption until 2 p.m. to make adjustments to the report's contents, among other reasons. Kim Young-jin, chair of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, said, "We need time to compile the confirmation hearing report and adjust various aspects of its contents. The opposition also asked for sufficient time to discuss the matter, so we adjusted the schedule to make a decision and vote on the report at 2 p.m., before the audit begins."

Kim Ji-yong, nominee to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, delivers opening remarks at a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on October 14, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Earlier today, Committee Chair Kim said on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," "I have concluded that [Kim] has the capability to adequately serve as head of the SCIA." He added, "I don't think he acted or made decisions to side with pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk Yeol) forces and capitalize on politics for personal gain."

Park Joo-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker who had subjected Kim to rigorous scrutiny at the previous day's hearing despite being a member of the ruling party, said, "I got the impression that he is someone who is easily shaken," but added, "Now it is the president's turn." In other words, the final appointment is for President Lee Jae-myung to decide. Yoon Kun-young, the Democratic Party's ranking member on the committee, also said, "Whether to appoint him or not is entirely up to the president." He added, "[President Lee] should listen carefully to the public and make a decision, and I think that decision should also be respected."

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