[Anchor]

When President Lee Jae-myung nominated a former prosecutor as the candidate for the chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, a hardliner against the prosecution within the ruling bloc, made the following remarks.

[Choo Mi-ae / Governor of Gyeonggi Province: Shouldn't the President punish these forces? Why are you riding on their coattails and walking on eggshells?]

In response, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok raised the issue by recalling the past impeachment crisis of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, and pro-Lee Jae-myung faction members also reacted with anger, saying she crossed the line. Amid the eruption of internal conflict within the ruling bloc, the presidential office announced that it has begun additional verification of the SCIA chief candidate.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon.

[Reporter]

Pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers of the Democratic Party poured out harsh reactions to Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae's remarks, such as "You should focus more on your duties as governor of Gyeonggi Province" or "These are extreme remarks that sound like what you would hurl at former President Yoon Suk Yeol."

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok mentioned, "People won't think this is something said by a senior party member," and went on to state the following:

[Kim Min-seok / Leader of the Democratic Party: During the first year of President Roh Moo-hyun's settlement, it's a sort of precursor situation where internal and external forces joined forces to try to impeach him....]

However, among the hardliners against the prosecution within the Democratic Party, calls are growing for SCIA chief nominee Kim Ji-yong to step down, citing reasons such as his signing of a statement in 2020 opposing disciplinary action against then Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol.

[Chung Cheong-rae / Democratic Party Lawmaker: Is it right for someone who opposed the separation of investigation and indictment and prosecution reform to become the head of the SCIA?]

Former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk joined in, saying, "Party Leader Kim Min-seok brought up the impeachment of the late President Roh Moo-hyun to criticize Governor Choo Mi-ae," adding, "These are remarks that are of no help at all to President Lee."

Amid mounting controversy within the broader ruling bloc, the presidential office began additional verification on September 8 regarding nominee Kim, who had already been nominated by President Lee.

Multiple officials from the presidential office explained, "This means we are re-examining the issues pointed out by the ruling bloc before sending the request for confirmation hearings to the National Assembly," adding, "It does not mean withdrawing the nomination."

Nominee Kim also actively offered clarification today, stating, "I was demoted in the first personnel reshuffle after the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and I have never received preferential treatment for being close to a specific person."

(Video by Shin Dong-hwan and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek | Graphics by Seo Hyun-jung)