Kim Ji-yong, an attorney with a prosecutorial background, has been selected as the final candidate for the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul and announced plans to submit Kim's nomination to President Lee Jae-myung as the first chief of the agency.

Attorney Kim, who has been working as a managing partner at Apex Law Firm, is from the 28th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and has previously served as the head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and as the deputy chief prosecutor of the Gwangju High Court.

In August 2020, during the tenure of then-Minister Choo Mi-ae, he was promoted to prosecutor general in accordance with the policy favoring prosecutors from the criminal and trial divisions.

While serving as the head of the Criminal Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he oversaw the case-handling system between the police and prosecutors, including cases transferred from the police as well as requests for supplementary investigations and reinvestigations.

He also has experience in special investigations, having served as the head of the Special Investigation Division at the Daegu District Prosecutor's Office in 2014, and has worked across various fields including criminal affairs, trials, and inspections.

Previously, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency Candidate Recommendation Committee reviewed the qualifications and expertise of 11 candidates submitted through public recommendations, and recommended four individuals—including attorney Kim, attorney Moon Hong-joo, attorney Kim Kwan-jung, and Myongji University Professor Lee Yoon-je—to Minister Yun as candidates for the inaugural chief.

Once Minister Yun officially recommends attorney Kim for the position, President Lee will request a confirmation hearing from the National Assembly regarding the candidate.

Following the National Assembly confirmation hearing process, President Lee will appoint attorney Kim as the first chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency for a two-year term.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)