"Without Taking Sides": Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Voice Concern Over "Flawed Launch"

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung referred to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which was launched last week, urging it to conduct strict investigations without taking sides. Meanwhile, at the parliamentary audit, both the ruling and opposition parties poured out concerns over the agency opening its doors before being properly prepared.

Go Jeong-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

At the desks for the head of the newly created Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the head of the Public Prosecution Service—which still bears a nameplate reading "Prosecutor General" despite the agency's name change—acting chiefs sat in place of officially appointed heads.

At the first Cabinet meeting held since the launch of the SCIA and the Public Prosecution Service, President Lee Jae-myung stressed, "Never again should investigative and prosecutorial functions be abused by political power and fail to carry out their rightful roles."

[President Lee Jae-myung: "(The SCIA must act) without taking sides, regardless of ruling or opposition party, and without the slightest hesitation regarding criminal acts by powerful so-called social elites who are highly educated and wealthy..."]

President Lee is reported to have held a luncheon yesterday (October 6) with the acting chiefs of the Public Prosecution Service, the SCIA, and the National Police Agency, asking them to ensure the stable settlement of the new criminal justice system and the strict enforcement of the rule of law.

However, during the parliamentary audit, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties voiced deep concerns over the agency's flawed launch to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which oversees the SCIA as an external agency.

[Kim Young-bae / Member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee (Democratic Party): "A total of seven (regional chiefs) were appointed as of October 1. Can they really work properly as a team?"]

[Kwon Young-jin / Member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee (People Power Party): "Isn't launching the SCIA without a head something you, as the minister, should apologize for?"]

[Yoon Ho-jung / Minister of the Interior and Safety: "I am deeply sorry that the SCIA had to be launched (without an appointed chief)."]

The opposition party also questioned the political neutrality of the recently appointed senior officials at the SCIA.

[Joo Ho-young / Member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee (People Power Party): "Aren't you just packing the organization with your own people while restructuring it?"]

[Yoon Ho-jung / Minister of the Interior and Safety: "Are you saying we should have used Yoon Suk-yeol's prosecution?"]

[Joo Ho-young / Member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee (People Power Party): "That is not what I am saying. I'm not telling you to use Yoon Suk-yeol's prosecution."]

[Yoon Ho-jung / Minister of the Interior and Safety: "What can we do when, after clearing them all out, these are the only people left?"]

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung stated that about two-thirds of the SCIA's personnel have been recruited so far, adding that the remaining vacancies will be filled through special appointments or experienced hiring.

(Video by Oh Young-choon and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.