Minister Yoon defends SCIA nominee and discusses prosecution reform

South Korean Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung addressed concerns regarding prosecution reform and the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting.

Regarding the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as the first head of the SCIA, Yoon defended Kim’s philosophy, stating there are no issues with his fundamental commitment to prosecution reform, human rights protection, and social justice. This response follows questioning about Kim’s past opposition to reducing prosecutors' investigative powers while serving as a high-ranking official at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Addressing criticisms that the proposed organizational structure of the Prosecution Service might allow investigative functions to persist, Yoon stated that the government is discussing amendments to the plan in consultation with the Ministry of Justice. He noted that the current draft was rushed due to legislative notice deadlines and indicated that a re-announcement of the legislative notice could be considered if necessary.

The SCIA is scheduled to launch on October 2. While the agency aims for a total staff of 2,874, current applicants account for approximately 61% of that target. Yoon indicated that personnel shortages would be addressed through experienced hires and the transfer of staff from the prosecution service.