SCIA chief nominee vows to end 'politicization' of investigations

Kim Ji-yong, nominee to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, pledged Thursday to end the politicization of investigations and protect the agency’s independence. The SCIA launched last Friday after prosecutors lost their power to conduct direct investigations. Kim is scheduled for a parliamentary confirmation hearing next Wednesday, but some ruling-party lawmakers oppose his nomination.

The criminal justice overhaul assigns investigation powers to the newly launched SCIA while removing prosecutors’ authority to conduct direct investigations.

Kim Ji-yong said past prosecution practices included targeted, dirt-digging probes pursued for political purposes.

Kim said he recognizes that those practices ultimately led to the dismantling of the prosecution.

Some Democratic Party of Korea hardliners claim Kim previously opposed prosecution reform.

Published Oct 8, 2026 3:05 pm KST

Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor nominated to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, speaks outside his office at Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

The nominee to lead the newly launched Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) pledged Thursday to end the "politicization" of investigations and to maintain their independence.

The SCIA launched last Friday as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that strips prosecutors of their power to conduct direct investigations amid criticism that they had pursued political probes.

"(I) will first put an end to the politicization of investigations," Kim Ji-yong told reporters. "The prosecution in the past conducted targeted, dirt-digging probes with political purposes, leading to numerous harms.

"(I) painfully recognize the current situation that has ultimately led to the dismantling of the prosecution."

The former prosecutor said he would make efforts to ensure the new agency "firmly" protects political neutrality and the independence of investigations.

Kim is scheduled to undergo his parliamentary confirmation hearing next Wednesday.

His nomination has faced opposition from some ruling Democratic Party of Korea hardliners, who have claimed the nominee had once opposed prosecution reform.

被提名为重罪调查厅厅长的金智勇周四承诺，将结束调查的政治化，并维护该机构的独立性。重罪调查厅于上周五成立，此前检察官失去了直接调查的权力。金智勇将于下周三接受国会确认听证，但一些执政党议员反对他的提名。

刑事司法改革将调查权赋予新成立的刑事司法调查局 (SCIA)，同时取消了检察官直接进行调查的权力。

金智勇表示，过去的检察做法包括出于政治目的而进行的有针对性的、挖掘黑料的调查。

金表示，他意识到这些做法最终导致了检方的解散。

一些韩国民主党强硬派人士声称，金正恩此前曾反对检察制度改革。

发布于2026年10月8日下午3:05（韩国标准时间）

周四，被提名为重罪调查厅厅长的前检察官金智勇在首尔政府大楼外发表讲话。（韩联社）

周四，被提名领导新成立的严重犯罪调查局（SCIA）的候选人承诺结束调查的“政治化”，并保持调查的独立性。

上周五启动的《刑事司法改革法案》(SCIA) 是刑事司法系统重大改革的一部分，该法案剥夺了检察官进行直接调查的权力，此前检察官曾因进行政治调查而受到批评。

金智英告诉记者：“我首先要杜绝调查政治化。过去检方出于政治目的进行有针对性的、挖掘黑料的调查，造成了诸多危害。”

“（我）痛苦地意识到，目前的形势最终导致了检方的解散。”

这位前检察官表示，他将努力确保新机构“坚定”地维护政治中立性和调查独立性。

金正恩将于下周三接受国会确认听证。

他的提名遭到了韩国执政党共同民主党一些强硬派的反对，他们声称该候选人曾反对检察机关改革。