"Normalizing the Abnormal... Come About Once a Month"

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung stated that having the head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) attend Cabinet meetings is about "normalizing the abnormal." While repeatedly pushing back directly against concerns that this could compromise investigative independence, he also told the SCIA chief that attending about once a month would suffice.

Kang Min-u reports.

[Reporter]

As Kim Ji-yong, head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, attended a Cabinet meeting for the second time following last week, President Lee Jae-myung brought up the related controversy first.

[President Lee Jae-myung: This criticism is likely raised out of concern that the political neutrality of investigative agencies might be compromised, but what does attending or not attending an open meeting like this have to do with political neutrality?]

Asking rhetorically whether neutrality was well maintained in the past when heads of investigative agencies did not attend Cabinet meetings, he stated that attending open meetings actually reduces the possibility of improper directives and unlawful acts.

[President Lee Jae-myung: I will say that this is also part of normalizing the abnormal. Correcting wrong practices or exemptions is itself a reform and progress.]

Even so, he added toward the SCIA chief that if he is busy handling personnel and facility management following the agency's recent launch, he could skip meetings.

[President Lee Jae-myung: If it is not strictly necessary, you do not have to come. But do come about once a month.]

This indicates that heads of other ministries, agencies, and commissions—outside of State Council members who are obligated to attend—may participate depending on their circumstances, with a senior Cheong Wa Dae official explaining that the intent is to "provide a bit of flexibility."

Analysis suggests that concerns within the ruling bloc lie behind this changed stance.

While some senior members of the ruling party voiced opinions that President Lee should not summon the SCIA head starting from the next meeting, it was also understood that there were concerns inside Cheong Wa Dae that various state affairs addressed at Cabinet meetings could be overshadowed by the controversy over the SCIA chief's attendance.

Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryung | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hui | Graphics by Jaegal Chan
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.