"Normalizing the Abnormal... Come About Once a Month"

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung stated that the head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency attending Cabinet meetings is a "normalization of the abnormal." He questioned what attending an open public meeting has to do with political neutrality, but left room for flexibility, saying that if attending proves difficult due to work, coming about once a month would be fine.

Kang Min-u reports.

[Reporter]

Kim Ji-yong, head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, attended the Cabinet meeting today (October 27).

This marks his second attendance following last week.

President Lee Jae-myung first addressed the controversy surrounding the agency head's attendance at the meeting, saying:

[President Lee Jae-myung : "These criticisms are likely raised out of concern that the political neutrality of investigative agencies might be undermined, but what does attending or not attending such an open meeting have to do with political neutrality?"]

Questioning whether neutrality was maintained well when heads of investigative agencies did not attend Cabinet meetings in the past, he said that attending open meetings actually reduces the possibility of improper directives and unlawful acts.

[President Lee Jae-myung : "I would like to say that this, too, is part of normalizing the abnormal. Correcting wrong practices or special exemptions is also what reform and progress are about."]

At the same time, addressing the head of the agency, he added that he may skip meetings if he is busy managing personnel and facilities following the agency's recent launch.

[President Lee Jae-myung : "If it is not strictly necessary, you do not have to come. But please do come about once a month."]

This means that heads of other ministries, agencies, and commissions—aside from Cabinet members who are required to attend—may attend according to their individual circumstances. This effectively shifts the policy about 10 months after an order was issued at a Cabinet meeting on December 30 of last year directing that "all agency heads must attend the meetings unless there are special circumstances."

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official explained that "the intention is to provide some flexibility and leeway."

Interpretations suggest that concerns within the ruling camp lie behind the revised policy.

While some senior party lawmakers voiced opinions that President Lee should not call the head of the agency starting from the next meeting, it was also learned that there were concerns inside Cheong Wa Dae that various state affairs addressed at Cabinet meetings could be overshadowed by the controversy over his attendance.

Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryung | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hui | Design by Jaegal Chan
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.