The presidential office is moving ahead with the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to lead the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, despite political opposition over his alleged ties to pro-Yoon figures. Presidential spokesman Sung Ki-hong said on October 1 that the office would soon send Kim’s confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly. He said an additional review had not changed the initial findings and that some allegations were either inconsistent with the facts or based on vague speculation. The office concluded that the allegations did not justify denying Kim the opportunity to explain his position at a parliamentary hearing.
The move comes as the revised Criminal Procedure Act takes effect on October 2 and the prosecution service is abolished under the new institutional framework. The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that President Lee Jae-myung has emphasized a firm commitment to prosecutorial reform and said prosecutors should not automatically be excluded from consideration for senior posts. The reports also noted potential uncertainty because key leadership positions remain vacant and follow-up legislation is incomplete. Kim’s hearing process will therefore test both the administration’s reform approach and the political response to the new investigative structure.