Pan-Ruling Camp Hits Harder at Confirmation Hearing for Major Crimes Investigation Agency Chief Nominee

[Anchor]

A confirmation hearing is underway at the National Assembly for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the inaugural Major Crimes Investigation Agency. Some hearing committee members from the pan-ruling camp who had strongly championed prosecution reform instead subjected Kim's qualifications to intense scrutiny.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

Although the Major Crimes Investigation Agency was already launched on October 2, the confirmation hearing for nominee Kim Ji-yong was held more than a month after his nomination amid internal strife within the pan-ruling camp.

Kim pledged to make the agency—born as the fruit of criminal justice reform—an investigative body trusted by the public, vowing to break away from past prosecutorial practices such as targeted investigations and fishing expeditions.

[Kim Ji-yong / Nominee for Major Crimes Investigation Agency Chief: "With human rights as our top priority, we will ensure that no one is wronged during the investigation process. We will make it an investigative body equipped with specialized expertise in investigating major crimes..."]

The People Power Party leveled criticism at both the government and the ruling camp, stating that not only was the confirmation hearing for Kim delayed for a long period due to internal conflict in the ruling bloc, but it was also being conducted during the parliamentary audit period.

[Kang Myung-gu / People Power Party Lawmaker: "They fought among themselves. Even a provincial governor chimed in. Members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee also weighed in. Those of us on the Public Administration and Security Committee, who actually need to conduct the confirmation hearing, really feel like fools."]

Instead, strong criticism of Kim erupted from within the pan-ruling camp.

[Jeong Chun-saeng / Rebuilding Korea Party Lawmaker: "Do you have any record of speaking out, taking action, writing, or fighting against prosecutorial power regarding prosecution reform?"]

[Kim Ji-yong / Nominee for Major Crimes Investigation Agency Chief: "I have said such things privately on many occasions, but..."]

[Jeong Chun-saeng / Rebuilding Korea Party Lawmaker: "I am asking about your public capacity, not your private capacity."]

Lawmakers questioned whether Kim is a pro-Yoon prosecutor, pointing out that while he claims to have opposed unreasonable indictments by prosecutors during the exit ban case involving former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui and the Channel A case involving Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, he has failed to submit any supporting documentation.

[Youn Kun-young / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "From now on, I will prove whether the nominee made a cowardly choice. If the nominee held an opposing view, the principle is naturally to submit the evidence. That would be the confident thing to do."]

[Kim Ji-yong / Nominee for Major Crimes Investigation Agency Chief: "To my knowledge, I was not requested to provide documentation supporting my opposition."]

Kim stated that he is not a pro-Yoon prosecutor and that various abuses had surfaced within the prosecution organization in the past, making it a target for reform.

(Video by Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.