Nominee to Lead South Korea’s Major Crimes Agency Pledges Fairness and Neutrality

Kim Ji-yong, nominated to become the first head of South Korea’s Major Crimes Investigation Agency, said fairness and neutrality would be essential as the country undergoes a major change to its criminal justice system.

Speaking outside an office preparing for his confirmation hearing, Kim said he felt a heavy responsibility after being nominated to lead the agency. “Fairness, neutrality and procedural justice are very important,” he said.

Reporters asked whether his opposition to the previous administration’s prosecution reform had changed. Kim, who served as a senior prosecutor under the Moon Jae-in government, declined to answer directly and said he would explain his position during the hearing. He also gave the same response when asked whether appointing a former prosecutor conflicted with the purpose of prosecutorial reform.

“

Fairness, neutrality and procedural justice are very important.

The agency is scheduled to launch on Oct. 2 with 2,874 positions. An initial special recruitment process attracted 2,376 prosecutors and prosecution investigators, but 615 later withdrew. The remaining applicants number 1,761, or 61% of the planned workforce. The agency plans to recruit experienced police officers, lawyers, accountants and patent attorneys, while pursuing an additional special recruitment process for prosecution service employees.

Kim said he would work to ensure the agency becomes established quickly during what he called a serious period and promised to prevent citizens from feeling wronged during investigations. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said President Lee Jae Myung expects Kim to lead the agency successfully based on his investigative experience and organizational management skills within the new system separating investigations from indictments.

“

I will do my utmost so that no citizens feel wronged during the investigation stage.