Kim Ji-yong nominated as first head of Serious Crime Investigation Agency

President Lee Jae-myung has nominated attorney Kim Ji-yong to serve as the first head of the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA). The Blue House stated that Kim, a legal expert with extensive experience in criminal investigation and organizational management, is the ideal candidate to ensure the agency's stable establishment ahead of its scheduled launch on October 2.

However, the nomination has sparked significant backlash from within the ruling coalition. Critics, including Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min, have questioned whether a former prosecutor who previously opposed the reduction of prosecutorial investigative powers possesses the necessary philosophy to lead an agency designed to separate investigation from indictment.

The Rebuilding Korea Party expressed strong regret over the appointment, labeling Kim a “pro-prosecution” figure due to his past actions. Meanwhile, some hardline reformists within the Democratic Party have raised concerns that the proposed structure of the accompanying Prosecution Office could lead to a “revival of political prosecutors.”

Kim Ji-yong, a former head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, has indicated he will address questions regarding his past stances and the appropriateness of his appointment during his upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearing.