Confirmation Hearing Request for Kim Ji-yong Endorsed... 4-Hour Dinner with Jung Chung-rae

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has endorsed the confirmation hearing request for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. Amid demands from many hardliners for prosecutorial reform within the broader ruling bloc calling for the withdrawal of Kim's nomination, President Lee had dinner with former party leader Jung Chung-rae, considered one of the hardliners.

Ha Jeong-yeon reports.

[Reporter]

Shortly after sending the National Assembly the confirmation hearing request for Kim Ji-yong—the nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, whose nomination some figures in the broader ruling bloc have demanded be withdrawn while raising suspicions that he is a "pro-Yoon prosecutor"—President Lee Jae-myung posted on social media that "the affairs of the world are not linear." He wrote, "Seeing that nominee Kim was demoted and ousted by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, isn't it hard to conclusively label him as at least 'pro-Yoon'?"

However, he left room open, saying, "I will decide whether to make the final appointment after going through the confirmation hearing."

Cheong Wa Dae disclosed that on Thursday night (October 1), President Lee had dinner with former Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, a hardliner on prosecutorial reform, and stated that they "formed a deep consensus through a candid conversation."

While Cheong Wa Dae maintains that "the issue of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency chief nominee and the dinner with former leader Jung are separate matters," many in the Yeouido political circle interpret the move as an effort to ease internal backlash within the broader ruling bloc.

However, the Rebuilding Korea Party remains steadfast in its opposition, and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min also held a press conference calling for the withdrawal of the nomination, as pushback from hardliners in the broader ruling bloc continues.

[Kim Yong-min / Democratic Party Lawmaker: The nominee for the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is someone who has opposed prosecutorial reform. If things continue like this, there are concerns that investigation and prosecution, which have been separated by law, could once again merge into one at any time.]

Nominee Kim Ji-yong stated, "I will fulfill my duty regarding prosecutorial reform," adding that he would "explain everything at the confirmation hearing."

[Kim Ji-yong / Nominee for Chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency: (There are still claims labeling you "pro-Yoon." How do you plan to address this?) I will explain that matter in detail at the confirmation hearing.]

While pro-Lee Democratic Party lawmakers voiced support for "respecting the president's appointment authority," the Democratic Party stated it will proceed with the confirmation hearing according to procedure, and the People Power Party vowed to thoroughly vet the nominee, citing deep public concern over the collapse of the criminal justice system.

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Park Seon-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.