President Lee Calls Serious Crimes Agency Chief's Cabinet Attendance 'Part of Normalizing the Abnormal'

President Lee Jae-myung pushed back against the controversy surrounding the attendance of Kim Ji-yong, head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, at the Cabinet meeting, saying, "(The objections are likely) raised out of concern that the political neutrality of investigative and inspection agencies might be undermined, but what does attending or not attending an open meeting like this have to do with political neutrality?"

Presiding over the 46th Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae today (October 27), President Lee said, "Let me reiterate that, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, all ministries, administrations, and central administrative agencies are subject to direct command and supervision by the president, and under the president's command, to the command and supervision of the prime minister."

He then asked, "In a venue like this, would our Cabinet members make private requests to the heads of investigative and inspection agencies, or would they issue unlawful orders?" adding, "The likelihood of engaging in acts that violate the law is actually lower."

He pointed out, "In the past, when they did not attend such Cabinet meetings, was the neutrality of investigative and inspection agencies well-maintained? That was not the case."

President Lee emphasized, "Attending an open meeting as a legal duty has no correlation whatsoever with political neutrality."

He also stated, "Rather, in a space like this, we should share the tone, direction, values, and orientations of state governance, and reflect them in our respective state affairs and the governance we are each tasked with."

President Lee described the agency head's attendance at the Cabinet meeting as "part of normalizing the abnormal," stressing, "Correcting wrong practices or certain routine exemptions is itself reform and progress."

However, in subsequent remarks directed toward Commissioner Kim Ji-yong, President Lee also added, "The Major Crimes Investigation Agency was newly launched recently, so it lacks personnel and has incomplete facilities. You do not have to come unless it is strictly necessary," and "Come about once a month. You may handle it autonomously."

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