Kim Ji-yong Receives Appointment Letter... "Our Serious Crime Investigation Agency Will..."

[Anchor]

Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, has received his appointment letter 41 days after being nominated. Chief Kim expressed his ambition to prove the agency's necessity through tangible results. He also emphasized eradicating the politicization of investigations, though he gave no direct answer regarding whether he would attend Cabinet meetings.

Here is a report by reporter Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

Inaugural Serious Crime Investigation Agency Chief Kim Ji-yong received his appointment letter from President Lee Jae-myung.

This comes 41 days after his nomination as chief.

[President Lee Jae-myung : You have been through a lot.]

The presidential office stated that President Lee urged Chief Kim to "handle issues that raise public suspicion strictly according to principles, without taking sides."

Earlier this morning (October 19), during his first doorstep interview on his way to work, Chief Kim stated that he would stabilize the Serious Crime Investigation Agency early on and prove its necessity through practical outcomes.

Citing the politicization of investigations as the cause of past prosecutorial abuses of investigative authority, he also stressed that he would eradicate this and maintain political neutrality.

[Kim Ji-yong / Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency : It is the eradication of the politicization of investigations. Our Serious Crime Investigation Agency will strictly uphold fairness, neutrality, and procedural justice so that the public does not have to worry...] dak.

However, regarding the question of whether the head of an investigative agency will attend Cabinet meetings—a point that has sparked concerns over investigative independence—he avoided a direct answer.

[Kim Ji-yong / Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency : That will be appropriately determined in consultation with relevant laws and related organizations.]

Earlier yesterday, the Seoul Metropolitan Serious Crime Investigation Agency secured the custody of a suspect for the first time since its launch on October 2, arresting an individual of Southeast Asian nationality (A) caught on charges of smuggling marijuana into the country.

However, with investigative personnel and basic infrastructure still inadequately established, lingering tasks remain, including resolving the disciplinary inspection issue surrounding Gwangju Agency Head Lim Eun-jung, who had publicly opposed Chief Kim's appointment.

The Serious Crime Investigation Agency plans to hold Chief Kim's official inauguration ceremony tomorrow.

(Video filming: Yang Hyun-chul, Video editing: Jang Hyun-ki)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.