Jiyong Kim “I worked without being biased towards politics… I don’t think I’m unfit”

At the hearing, the position was revealed on the eligibility controversy... “I have never turned a blind eye to fire.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Jae-ha = Kim Ji-yong, the first candidate for the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (Serious Crimes Investigation Office), reiterated that he was opposed to cases of abuse of prosecutorial power in the past and emphasized that he has handled work without being biased by political inclinations.

At a National Assembly hearing held on the 14th, when Rep. Park Deok-heum of the People Power Party pointed out that the ruling party, Gwangju Regional Public Prosecutors' Office Director Lim Eun-jung, and the entire ruling party are opposed to the appointment, Candidate Kim said, "I am well aware that many people have expressed criticism."

He added, “I think a lot of people have said such things because of the importance and weight of the position of Director of the Heavy Water Administration, and I am taking it seriously.”

However, Candidate Kim emphasized, "I am proud that I handled the case with my own conviction without being biased by any political tendency," and added, "So I do not think I am unfit to run the Central Investigation Agency."

Candidate Kim also reiterated that in 2020, when he was Deputy Director of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, he was on the approval line to indict then-Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong on charges of independent violence against then-Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, but opposed the indictment.

However, he was asked about the circumstances at the time of the indictment by Rep. Yoon Geon-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, and he answered that he remembered that he had paid the bill at the time of the indictment, and that he later cooperated with the Supreme Prosecutor's Office when it investigated the truth of the case.

When Rep. Yoon pointed out that Candidate Kim did not submit materials to the fact-finding team and that he “passed by pretending not to see injustice,” Candidate Kim responded by saying, “I have never pretended not to see injustice and passed by.”

Candidate Kim also expressed his position on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol, who was indicted on charges of illegally banning departure from the country but was found not guilty.

Chun-saeng Chung, a member of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, pointed out that Candidate Kim was the head of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office's criminal department in 2021 when the case was being prosecuted, and asked whether he would be willing to apologize to those indicted.

Candidate Kim responded, "I can't say I'm not responsible at all," and "I'm fully willing to apologize personally."