Nominee vows political neutrality in leading new investigative agency

Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor nominated to lead the Serious Crimes Investigative Agency, pledged political neutrality at a parliamentary confirmation hearing on Wednesday. He said the SCIA would not conduct politically motivated investigations and defended his opposition to disciplinary action against Yoon Suk Yeol as a procedural fairness issue. Kim also said he could establish internal rules to prevent interior ministerial interference in investigations.

The SCIA will investigate seven serious crime categories, including corruption, national security violations and cybercrime.

Kim denied having professional or personal ties with Yoon Suk Yeol and rejected being described as a pro-Yoon prosecutor.

Kim identified Yoon as having had the greatest negative influence on the prosecution as an institution.

Kim said Han Dong-hoon’s classification as a political prosecutor would be difficult to deny.

Kim’s confirmation hearing was held before the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Published Oct 14, 2026 4:25 pm KST

Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor nominated to lead the Serious Crimes Investigative Agency, speaks during his parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor nominated to lead the newly-established Serious Crimes Investigative Agency (SCIA), pledged political neutrality at his parliamentary confirmation hearing on Wednesday, defending his suitability for the post while criticizing practices that have undermined public trust in the prosecution.

Speaking before the National Assembly, Kim said he had worked without political bias and did not consider himself unfit to become the inaugural chief of the organization, which will hold investigative authority over seven serious crime categories, including corruption as well as national security violations and cybercrime.

His remarks came as he sought to counter allegations that he was a close ally of Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor-turned-president. Kim said that under his watch, the SCIA would not allow politically motivated investigations, amid skepticism among ruling party politicians about his political neutrality.

“I take pride in having handled cases according to my convictions (as a former prosecutor), without favoring any political side,” Kim said.

Kim repeatedly denied being a “pro-Yoon prosecutor.” When asked by Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea whether he had been close enough to Yoon to warrant that label, Kim dismissed it.

“We are not close. We have no professional or personal ties,” he said.

Explaining his past opposition to moves by then-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae to suspend Yoon from his duties as prosecutor general and seek disciplinary action against him, Kim said he had objected solely out of concerns about the fairness of the procedures.

Asked by Rep. Park Duk-hyum of the main opposition People Power Party whom he would identify as the foremost “political prosecutor,” Kim named Yoon, saying that Yoon had the “greatest negative influence” on the prosecution as an institution.

When Park asked whether Han Dong-hoon, another prosecutor-turned-politician, also fell into that category, Kim replied that it would be “difficult to deny.”

Kim also said he would consider adopting internal rules to prevent the interior minister from interfering in investigations, if deemed necessary to safeguard the SCIA’s political neutrality.

“The law requires the SCIA to uphold fairness and political neutrality,” he said. “If I become its chief, I will put internal rules in place if necessary.”

被提名为重罪调查厅厅长的前检察官金智勇周三在国会确认听证会上承诺保持政治中立。他表示，重罪调查厅不会进行出于政治动机的调查，并为自己反对对尹锡烈采取纪律处分辩护，称这是程序公正的问题。金智勇还表示，他可以制定内部规则，防止内政部干预调查。

特别刑事调查局将调查七类严重犯罪，包括腐败、危害国家安全以及网络犯罪。

金否认与尹锡烈有职业或私人关系，并拒绝被描述为亲尹锡烈的检察官。

金认为尹某对检方这一机构产生了最大的负面影响。

金表示，很难否认韩东勋是政治检察官这一事实。

金正恩的任命听证会于周三在国会举行。

发布于2026年10月14日下午4:25（韩国标准时间）

前检察官金智勇被提名为重罪调查厅厅长，周三在首尔国会出席其提名确认听证会并发表讲话。（韩国时报 沈贤哲 摄）

前检察官金智勇被提名为新成立的重案调查厅（SCIA）厅长。周三，他在国会确认听证会上承诺保持政治中立，为自己担任该职位辩护，同时批评了损害公众对检察机关信任的做法。

金在国会发表讲话时表示，他一直秉持不带政治偏见的原则工作，并不认为自己不适合担任该机构的首任负责人。该机构将对包括腐败、危害国家安全和网络犯罪在内的七类严重犯罪拥有调查权。

金正日发表此番言论，旨在反驳有关他与前检察官、现任总统尹锡烈关系密切的指控。金正日表示，在他的领导下，最高情报局不会允许任何出于政治动机的调查。此前，执政党内部人士对他政治中立性有所质疑。

金说：“我为自己能够按照自己的信念（作为一名前检察官）处理案件而感到自豪，不偏袒任何政治派别。”

金某多次否认自己是“亲尹锡悦的检察官”。当韩国执政党共同民主党议员李相植问及他是否与尹锡悦关系密切到足以被贴上这个标签时，金某予以否认。

他说：“我们关系并不亲近，没有任何工作或私人联系。”

金在解释他过去为何反对时任法务部长官秋美爱暂停尹锡悦检察长职务并对其采取纪律处分时表示，他反对完全是出于对程序公正性的担忧。

当主要反对党国民力量党议员朴德贤问及他认为谁是首屈一指的“政治检察官”时，金正日点名尹锡悦，称尹锡悦对检察机关这一机构产生了“最大的负面影响”。

当朴槿惠问及另一位从检察官转型为政治家的韩东勋是否也属于这一类时，金正男回答说“很难否认”。

金正恩还表示，如果认为有必要维护最高情报局的政治中立性，他将考虑制定内部规则，防止内政部长干预调查。

他说：“法律要求SCIA维护公平和政治中立。如果我当选局长，我会在必要时制定内部规则。”