- Assessment of Kim Ji-yong? Sufficient capabilities as the inaugural head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency
- Regrettable that hearing focused solely on being "pro-Yoon"... Absolutely not "pro-Yoon"
- Just followed law and principles... He also admitted his conviction was somewhat lacking
- Choo Mi-ae and Lim Eun-jung's demand to appear as witnesses put us in an awkward spot... They should focus on their primary duties
- Disciplinary action against Lim Eun-jung? Will follow procedures based on findings from agency's inspection bureau
- Heads of investigative agencies attending Cabinet meetings? Specific directives will not be given
- Lim Kwang-hyun named new Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff? Had no idea... It is fresh
- Lacking political weight? Will assist the president well while handling the economy and people's livelihoods
- Short political experience is also a strength... Can focus on work regardless of factions
- Controversy over "Gyeonggi-Seongnam line"? Purely an appointment based on merit
- Shincheonji allegations within ruling party? Must investigate and announce facts as they are
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: October 15, 2026 (Thursday)
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Kim Young-jin, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker (Chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee)
[Kim Tae-hyun]: A young man who says what needs to be said. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-jin, who served as the nation's MC yesterday. Hello.
[Kim Young-jin]: Good to see you.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Lawmaker, you must have only slept for a few hours, right?
[Kim Young-jin]: Well, I slept enough.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: What time did it end yesterday?
[Kim Young-jin]: It ended a little past 10:00 PM.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: You went through a lot yesterday.
[Kim Young-jin]: It was a long session.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: This confirmation hearing was controversial and turbulent. Moreover, if it had been the standard dynamic of the ruling party defending and the opposition attacking, it would have been a bit easier for you as committee chair. But now, even the ruling party is split in two, with some ruling party members attacking the nominee more fiercely than the opposition did.
[Kim Young-jin]: Yes. Democratic Party lawmakers entered the confirmation hearing with the principle of conducting a rigorous vetting process. Because they made that their guiding principle, lawmakers seem to have asked all the questions they had prepared.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Lawmaker, looking at your overall assessment from yesterday: As committee chair, are you satisfied? Do you feel that nominee Kim Ji-yong defended himself well and did a good job?
[Kim Young-jin]: Isn't he the nominee for the inaugural head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency? With investigation and indictment separated, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency must investigate corruption and economic crimes, serving as the ultimate bulwark to protect the human rights of the people. At the same time, its most critical role is to ensure fairness and neutrality and prevent the politicization of the agency. On that front, I determined that he possesses sufficient capability to take on the duty as the inaugural head.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: But lawmaker, yesterday, rather than asking whether he really has the ability to conduct investigations properly and settle the agency smoothly, whether he has political neutrality to withstand external pressure, or whether he is morally upright, the lawmakers' questions seemed entirely focused on: "Who are you? Are you pro-Yoon or anti-Yoon?"
[Kim Young-jin]: That is why I also felt regret. In truth, nominee Kim Ji-yong was a prosecutor who handled investigations in criminal divisions for 25 years.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: He is not part of the so-called special investigation faction, right?
[Kim Young-jin]: He was never part of the special investigation faction at all. In short, there was zero overlap between him and Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol's pro-Yoon faction. I also do not know nominee Kim Ji-yong personally, but I believe yesterday confirmed that attacking him and labeling him as a pro-Yoon prosecutor was completely untrue.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Lawmaker, seeing you intervene at various points, you seemed frustrated as chair and asked them to give him a chance to explain.
[Kim Young-jin]: To put it simply, there were matters where nominee Kim Ji-yong needed an adequate opportunity to answer due to the time limits of the hearing committee members, so I provided him with opportunities to explain himself.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: But yesterday, ruling party lawmakers Park Ju-min and Youn Kun-young cited several past cases, calling him a "political prosecutor," an "accomplice," and "cowardly." These remarks came from ruling party lawmakers, not the opposition.
[Kim Young-jin]: Those were individual lawmakers' thoughts and judgments as they viewed the cases, so it is difficult for me to comment on or edit their views. However, looking at it as chair of the confirmation hearing committee, I felt nominee Kim Ji-yong did not make decisions or act to seek political gain by siding with the pro-Yoon faction. In short, I believe he made judgments and decisions based on the truth of the cases themselves and the relevant legal theories and statutes. Therefore, regarding the Kim Hak-ui case, he opposed indicting Blue House Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol, and he also opposed the indictment in Prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong's special assault case. I view his positions on those matters as judgments and opinions based on the facts of the cases and legal assessments.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see.
[Kim Young-jin]: However, some point out that he did not take actions outside his prosecutorial role, such as voicing opinions to the media or writing posts on social media to demonstrate that. Demanding why he did not do so does not seem very appropriate to me. In short, I see nominee Kim Ji-yong as someone who carried out the duties given to him as a prosecutor and public servant based on the law, principles, and facts, and not someone who moved to gain political advantage by standing on one side with political bias. That said, when questioned about why he did not act with more conviction, he acknowledged that he could have responded better and had shortcomings.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Lawmaker, you decided to adopt the confirmation hearing report today, correct?
[Kim Young-jin]: In accordance with consultations between the ruling and opposition floor whips yesterday, we agreed to adopt the confirmation report today before the parliamentary audit of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. In short, the whips agreed to adopt the Public Administration and Security Committee's confirmation hearing report by including both favorable and unfavorable opinions voiced during the hearing, and we plan to proceed with that at 10:00 AM today.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Does the People Power Party plan to deem him qualified or unqualified?
[Kim Young-jin]: They will probably share their position after discussing it today.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Within the Democratic Party, as chair, you naturally intend to adopt it as qualified, but several lawmakers are pushing back, aren't they?
[Kim Young-jin]: We plan to adopt the report while including those opinions as well.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: I understand. There shouldn't be much trouble with him being appointed, right?
[Kim Young-jin]: We submit a report through the confirmation hearing detailing opinions on his suitability, as well as various assessments of his fairness, neutrality, qualifications, and organizational management skills, so the president will ultimately make the decision.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae and Gwangju Regional Serious Crime Investigation Agency Chief Lim Eun-jung asked to be called as witnesses. Why didn't you summon them?
[Kim Young-jin]: That was a very awkward dilemma. I know Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae well, and while I do not know Chief Lim Eun-jung well, having them appear to conduct vetting could have been fine. However, I believe what is necessary right now is for the head of the Gwangju Regional Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Gyeonggi governor to focus on performing their primary duties properly. Furthermore, because the rest of the issues have already been reported extensively in the media, committee members questioned him yesterday on roughly ten issues raised by Chief Lim Eun-jung and Governor Choo Mi-ae. For anything that was left out, I, as chair, asked questions and received explanations from the nominee. I believe the public will make their judgment. My impression, however, was that the issues raised by Chief Lim and Governor Choo were overly partial. Their judgments were heavily grounded in their own viewpoints rather than approaching the full truth of the cases, so I felt they fell short of offering a full picture to evaluate nominee Kim Ji-yong.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
[Kim Young-jin]: The public watched the broadcast for about 10 hours yesterday, so they will judge for themselves. While I cannot say nominee Kim Ji-yong possesses extraordinary talent to single-handedly prevent politicization and launch a fair and neutral agency, I believe he has sufficient conviction, qualifications, and tenacity to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: How do you think disciplinary action against Prosecutor Lim Eun-jung should be handled?
[Kim Young-jin]: The Minister of the Interior and Safety gave instructions to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, so I think it should proceed in accordance with procedures and protocols based on what the agency's inspection bureau uncovers.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Do you believe disciplinary action itself is appropriate?
[Kim Young-jin]: If the findings during that due process warrant disciplinary action, action should be taken; otherwise, they might seek alternative measures such as a warning. When disciplinary action and suspension from duties were taken against Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol, the court did not uphold the penalty. That was rejected because the procedure and process did not strictly follow the law and regulations. My takeaway from this confirmation hearing is that we must not handle things that way. We must not handle it incompetently.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Moving on, the president recently said the heads of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency should attend Cabinet meetings. The rationale was that under the Constitution and laws, the president oversees the executive branch, and since they are heads of administrative agencies, they need to attend Cabinet meetings to share the direction of state affairs. However, the opposition and media have a different view. They argue: "Investigative agencies are supposed to be independent, so is it right for them to attend Cabinet meetings?" What is your view on this?
[Kim Young-jin]: There are various perspectives, but in reality, aren't they agencies under the executive branch's oversight?
[Kim Tae-hyun]: That is true.
[Kim Young-jin]: They are external, independent agencies, but attending Cabinet meetings does not mean giving specific case directives to the heads of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, the Public Prosecution Agency, or the National Police Agency. If that were to happen, I believe the leadership of those investigative agencies should reject and dismiss it. I addressed this matter precisely with nominee Kim Ji-yong yesterday. In short, while he is subject to general oversight, how would he act if given directives on a specific case? When asked how he would respond if an unjust, inappropriate, or improper order were given regarding a specific case, nominee Kim also stated his firm position that he would independently, neutrally, and resolutely refuse it to maintain neutrality. Since state affairs are conducted under the Lee Jae-myung administration, it is a forum to understand and share the administration's philosophy and direction, not a place to give orders regarding specific cases. Maintaining that distinction is what is necessary.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Changing topics, regarding the major personnel announcement made yesterday: the appointment of Lim Kwang-hyun as the new presidential chief of staff. Did you have any advance notice?
[Kim Young-jin]: I had no idea at all.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Really?
[Kim Young-jin]: Yes.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Was there no rumor at all? Beyond media reports, we thought there might have been rumors among key Democratic Party lawmakers about who might be appointed, since nothing appeared in the media.
[Kim Young-jin]: Because strict confidentiality is maintained regarding personnel appointments, there was no way to know.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: What was your immediate impression when you heard the news? Did you think "great choice," "oh no," or "why him?"
[Kim Young-jin]: My immediate thought was that it was fresh.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Saying it is fresh implies that you did not expect it either.
[Kim Young-jin]: I think it was done in a way that defied our general predictions.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: The reason I ask about that expression is because during your last appearance on our show, you said a heavyweight figure capable of adjusting public sentiment was needed. Looking at new Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun's career, he is truly top-tier as a tax bureaucrat at the National Tax Service. He held key posts and can be seen as the most competent tax official in South Korea. In politics, however, he only served as a proportional representative lawmaker for a single year. That has led some to question whether he carries enough weight to untangle current challenges.
[Kim Young-jin]: The figure with the greatest weight and problem-solving capability is the president, who will lead state affairs. I think Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun was deemed appropriate to design an administration and Cheong Wa Dae that produces tangible results, assisting the president by taking care of working-level matters, policy outcomes, the economy, and people's livelihoods in a concrete and practical manner. Second, while people point to that background as a weakness, I think it can actually be a strength. Having short political experience means that rather than seeking political interests or aligning with specific factions or cliques, he possesses the capability to focus entirely on assisting the president and delivering results. That is why he was selected; they judged that what appears to be a drawback is actually a greater advantage in serving as chief of staff.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: The chief of staff needs to maintain a firm grip on the presidential office, and while it may be fresh, criticism has arisen from the opposition questioning whether he might be pushed around by the "Gyeonggi-Seongnam line."
[Kim Young-jin]: Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun led the National Tax Service, which is effectively the most powerful economic audit agency in South Korea, didn't he?
[Kim Tae-hyun]: That is true.
[Kim Young-jin]: He oversaw, commanded, and handled personnel evaluations for tens of thousands of tax officials with strict rigor. Therefore, he is fully aware of the personnel authority, jurisdictional authority, and oversight powers granted to the chief of staff under the Government Organization Act. If he carries out his duties based on those principles, establishes his role, and earns respect within Cheong Wa Dae, I believe Chief of Staff Lim will not tolerate informal groups infringing upon his role, breaching boundaries, or intervening outside the formal system.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: One of the major criticisms coming from the People Power Party is that this is a patronage appointment. Today's Chosun Ilbo editorial argued the same point. The argument goes: Attorney Lee Seung-yeop served as defense counsel for the president in the Daejang-dong and North Korea remittance cases. Attorney Lee Seung-yeop's older sister is Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun's wife. She was appointed Consul General in Houston despite having no diplomatic background, and Lim Kwang-hyun was promoted to head of the National Tax Service after just one year as a proportional lawmaker, and then to chief of staff a year later. The opposition argues this is a reward appointment tied to Attorney Lee Seung-yeop. While the president certainly would not have made appointments on that basis, isn't the emergence of such criticism somewhat burdensome?
[Kim Young-jin]: There are such claims regarding his wife and brother-in-law. However, I believe this appointment was based on merit, chosen under the concept of guiding the second-term Lee Jae-myung Cheong Wa Dae with a focus on real livelihoods and practical results. In fact, just two weeks ago, Chief of Staff Lim resolved an extremely difficult challenge by recovering 400 billion won in unpaid taxes from a shipping tycoon—recovering 100 billion won immediately and securing the remaining 300 billion won using ships as collateral. He demonstrated wisdom, courage, determination, and decisiveness. I believe the president viewed those qualities favorably for the role of chief of staff assisting state administration.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
[Kim Young-jin]: People around him may criticize those aspects, but I think Chief of Staff Lim will need to exercise caution and manage things well as he carries out his duties.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. We have one minute left. Let me ask about an internal party matter: the Shincheonji issue. If handled poorly, it seems it could trigger significant conflict within the ruling party. Shincheonji is pushing back strongly against media reports. How should this be handled?
[Kim Young-jin]: Regarding Shincheonji, the issue came up frequently during the party leadership election as well. I think we should simply investigate and announce the facts as they are. Rather than adding political spin or editing the facts, we should present them as they are and let party members and the public make their judgment.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Do you think requesting a formal investigation is necessary?
[Kim Young-jin]: Because I do not know the exact details of whether it warrants that, announcing the facts as they are should come first.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: So the party should first announce the investigation results as they are, and any question of legal investigation comes after that?
[Kim Young-jin]: That is correct.
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. We will wrap up here today. We have been speaking with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-jin. Thank you.
[Kim Young-jin]: Thank you.
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