President Lee: "Kim Ji-yong Underwent Long Additional Vetting... Inappropriate to Request New Recommendation"

Regarding Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, President Lee Jae-myung said today (October 2), "Considering that he ordered a reinvestigation into the clearance of charges regarding the alleged instigation of perjury involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol's mother-in-law and was subsequently demoted by former President Yoon, wouldn't it be difficult, at the very least, to conclude that he is pro-Yoon?"

On this day, President Lee shared a netizen's post on X (formerly Twitter) to the effect that "President Lee is favorable toward pro-Yoon prosecutors," and remarked, "World affairs are not so linear. They are generally very complex, and evaluations of people are especially so."

He explained, "While I cannot say he is a 100% perfect candidate, it does not appear that he warrants ignoring the public recommendation, the shortlist of four candidates narrowed down by an independent recommendation committee, and the recommendation by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, to the point of depriving him of a National Assembly confirmation hearing."

He added, "He is judged to be the best candidate among the four narrowed down by the recommendation committee. Furthermore, looking at the results of extended additional vetting, it is not appropriate to request a new recommendation."

President Lee stated, "A final decision on whether to appoint him will be made after first going through the National Assembly confirmation hearing."

He continued, "Rather than the president appointing someone arbitrarily, this follows complex and strict procedures and requirements under the law—public recommendations, narrowing down to four by the recommendation committee, nomination by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and a National Assembly hearing—so how about watching the results of the hearing together?"

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.