Even if ‘you don’t have to force yourself to attend’… Kim Ji-yong, head of the Heavy Water and Fisheries Service, attends the Cabinet meeting for the fourth week.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-ju = Kim Ji-yong, head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, attended cabinet meetings for four consecutive weeks after taking office, despite the opposition's criticism that it was inappropriate for the head of the investigation agency to attend the cabinet meeting and the president's comment that "there is no need to force attendance."

Kim, head of the Central Investigation Agency, attended the cabinet meeting on the morning of the 10th. Since receiving the letter of appointment on the 19th of last month, I have attended four times, including on the 20th, 27th, and November 3rd of the same month.

As in previous meetings, Commissioner Kim appeared to be taking notes on President Lee Jae-myung's remarks while he was making general remarks regarding the assessment agency.

In addition to Commissioner Kim, the Cabinet meeting on this day was also attended by Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyeon (Deputy Director of the Public Prosecution Service), who heads the Public Prosecution Office, and Acting Police Commissioner Kim Jong-cheol (Deputy Chief of the National Police Agency and candidate for the National Police Agency).

Normally, it was customary for the heads of investigative agencies, such as the Prosecutor General and the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, not to attend cabinet meetings, considering that the independence of the investigation must be guaranteed.

However, on December 30 of last year, President Lee ordered that "foreign ministries also attend the cabinet meeting," and then-acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun has been attending since January of this year.

Opposition parties, including the People Power Party, have pointed out that the presence of Kim Ji-yong, head of the Central Investigation Agency, at the Cabinet meeting is inappropriate, saying that the independence of the assessment agency could be undermined.

President Lee's position is that there is no problem with the attendance of the head of the Heavy Water Administration and other cabinet meetings, but as if conscious of some criticism, at the cabinet meeting on October 27, he said, "There is no need to force yourself to attend even if you have other things to do," but asked, "Still, come at least once a month."

President Lee Jae-myung confirmed on this day that there was no confusion in the Central Investigation Office and Public Prosecution Office system, which was launched on the 2nd of last month under the new criminal justice system.

President Lee asked Kim Ji-yong, head of the Heavy Water and Water Administration, “Is the human resources reinforcement project going well?” and “Are the facilities, equipment, and work space being organized?”

Regarding manpower, Commissioner Kim said, “We will issue an announcement around the end of November to early December, and we expect to be fully staffed by February next year.” Regarding facilities and equipment, he said, “We expect them to be fully equipped around mid-December.”

The Heavy Water Administration currently has only about 66% of its workforce filled.

When President Lee said, "The people are watching the judicial reform, prosecution reform, and investigation and trial-related reform process with interest, please speed up the process even if it is difficult. It would be good to quickly overhaul it." Commissioner Kim emphasized, "We will make sure it is settled as soon as possible."

President Lee also asked Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyun, "There may be internal confusion after the separation of the organization. What do you think?" He added, "There are criticisms that authority is needed to track the recovery of criminal proceeds, but there is nothing that can be done in practice. What do you think?"

Acting Director Lee responded, “That is partly true, and we are preparing measures to improve it,” and added, “We are preparing a report on improvement measures related to the recovery of crime proceeds.”

Previously, at the Cabinet meeting on the 27th of last month, President Lee Jae-myung instructed Acting Director Lee Jeong-hyun to secure the manpower and budget necessary to recover the proceeds of crime.