Concerns are mounting within the legal community regarding the suitability of Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, due to his past as a prosecutor.
The Judicial Center of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society issued a statement on September 17, asserting that "considering the historical significance of the agency's establishment, Kim is not fit for the position and is unqualified."
They noted, "He has never agreed with the core principle of separating investigation and prosecution, and has actively opposed judicial reform efforts."
The statement elaborated that during his tenure as head of the Criminal Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in April 2022, Kim held a press conference to publicly oppose legislation aimed at reducing the prosecution's direct investigative powers and separating investigation from prosecution.
Additionally, they pointed out that he participated in a collective statement opposing the disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol, and he was part of the command line for the investigation into the travel ban case of former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui, which was later confirmed to be without merit.
As the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency approaches, the statement emphasized that it is more important to appoint a reform-minded candidate who can successfully lead the agency than to rush into selecting an unsuitable nominee. "If the first step is taken incorrectly, the entire reform could collapse," they warned.
Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae criticized Yoon and Han Dong-hoon on Facebook the previous day, stating, "Yoon and Han ultimately were not prosecuted despite obstructing investigations related to the Channel A case, thanks to the cooperation and machinations of individuals like Kim Ji-yong, who abandoned judicial justice within the organization. I consider them informants."
Choo added, "Kim Ji-yong opposed the disciplinary action against Yoon. He signed a joint statement from senior prosecutors opposing Yoon's suspension and disciplinary request, but later in 2021, the court recognized Yoon's obstruction of the Channel A investigation as valid grounds for disciplinary action."
Im Eun-jung, head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, also publicly questioned Kim's consistency during the investigations into the Channel A case and the travel ban case of Kim Hak-eui, asking, "What consistent stance did he take, and what efforts did he make to enforce it? Did he exercise his right to raise objections?" She further questioned whether Kim would adhere to the law as the chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, given that he prioritized organizational logic over legal obligations during his tenure as a prosecutor.
Kim Min-jae, the Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety and head of the preparation team for the agency's launch, held a briefing that day to address concerns regarding Kim's qualifications and actions.
He explained that Kim's participation in the statement opposing the suspension and disciplinary request against former Prosecutor General Yoon was intended to highlight procedural improprieties in the disciplinary process, while acknowledging the potential for misconduct.
Regarding the controversy over the command of the investigation into the emergency travel ban of former Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui, Kim Min-jae stated, "Three of the four individuals indicted were already under investigation and had been indicted before Kim took office as head of the Criminal Division. For the remaining individual, Kim expressed opposition to the indictment during an internal meeting, and he was not the final decision-maker on the indictment."
In response, Choo criticized this explanation, pointing out that the individual responsible for the indictment during the travel ban case was Lee Kwang-cheol, the former senior secretary for civil affairs in the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration, calling it "a pathetic excuse." She added that Lee had been a strong advocate for judicial reform within the Blue House and was targeted for investigation and indictment in connection with the travel ban case.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.