Jiyong Kim, “If necessary, we will create internal regulations to prevent the Minister of Public Administration and Security from interfering in the investigation.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Jae-ha = Candidate Ji-yong Kim, the first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (Serious Crimes Investigation Agency), announced that he would consider creating internal guidelines and regulations to prevent the Minister of Public Administration and Security from intervening in the investigation if necessary to maintain political neutrality.

At the National Assembly's personnel hearing on the 14th, Candidate Kim was asked by People's Power Party lawmaker Myung-ok Seo how he would act if the Ministry of Public Administration and Security exercised its right to command the investigation, and he responded, "The Central Investigation Agency is required to maintain fairness and neutrality even under legal regulations."

In this regard, when a member of the National Assembly asked whether he was willing to create internal guidelines and regulations to limit the intervention of the Minister of Public Administration and Security, Candidate Kim replied, "I think there is a system in place that can sufficiently control it legally," and "What is really more important than internal regulations is the will of the commissioner and investigators."

In response to Rep. Seo's point that this answer was not clear, Candidate Kim said, "If I become the head of the Heavy Water Administration, I will make internal regulations if necessary."

Rep. Seo raised concerns about whether political independence will be maintained, saying, "Especially in cases where there are political issues, the head of the Central Investigation Agency decides whether or not to indict a particular case in accordance with the instructions of the Minister of Public Administration and Security." He also said, "If you are asked to report investigative information to the Minister, you must report it, and information may be collected intentionally."

Rep. Seo also added, "It is expected that Candidate Kim will be under a lot of external pressure, not only from the Minister of Public Administration and Security. In the future, it is expected that there will be external pressure from higher up, not just from the Minister."

Previously, in his greeting at the hearing on this day, Candidate Kim cited political neutrality and independence as one of the key tasks facing the Central Investigation Agency and emphasized, "We will not be swayed by external pressure and will ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly and only in accordance with laws and principles."

Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "In the past, a prosecutor general accepted it because the Minister of Justice was leading the investigation, but he resigned and left." He asked, "I think this is necessary for candidates, too. Would you do that?" Candidate Kim responded, "Yes, of course."