Investigation body chief attends Cabinet meeting for 2nd time amid controversy

Serious Crime Investigation Agency chief Kim Ji-yong attended President Lee Jae Myung’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, amid opposition criticism that his presence could undermine the agency’s neutrality and independence. It was Kim’s second time attending since the agency launched Oct. 2 as part of a criminal justice overhaul that stripped prosecutors of independent investigative powers. Acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Jong-chul and Acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyun also attended. Lee rejected the criticism, saying it conflicted with his legal authority to oversee administrative affairs.

During a parliamentary audit, opposition lawmakers argued that investigative and prosecutorial agency chiefs’ attendance could compromise their agencies’ neutrality and independence.

Ruling party lawmakers said the chiefs’ presence was needed to coordinate state affairs and ensure cooperation among relevant agencies.

Kim Ji-yong said during the audit that he would decide whether to continue attending Cabinet meetings after consulting with the interior ministry.

President Lee Jae Myung made his argument in a social media post last Wednesday, calling the opposition’s position unconstitutional and contrary to his legal authority.

Published Oct 27, 2026 11:41 am KST

Kim Ji-yong, third from left, the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, attends a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), once again attended a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday, despite opposition criticism that his presence could undermine the agency's neutrality and independence.

Kim's attendance marked the second time he had joined the weekly Cabinet meeting since heading the SCIA, which was launched Oct. 2 as part of a criminal justice overhaul stripping prosecutors of their independent investigative powers.

Kim Jong-chul, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and acting Prosecutor General Lee Jeong-hyun also showed up at the Cabinet meeting.

During a recent parliamentary audit of the Lee administration, a heated debate erupted over whether it is appropriate for heads of investigative and prosecutorial agencies to attend Cabinet meetings.

Opposition lawmakers argued that their attendance could compromise their agencies' neutrality and independence, while ruling party lawmakers countered that their presence was necessary to coordinate on state affairs and ensure cooperation among relevant agencies.

SCIA chief Kim said during the audit session that he was aware of opposition parties' concerns and would decide whether to continue attending Cabinet meetings after consulting with the interior ministry.

President Lee has rejected the criticism from opposition lawmakers, saying in a social media post last Wednesday that their argument was unconstitutional and ran counter to the president's legal authority to oversee administrative affairs.

周二，重案调查室室长金智龙出席了李在明总统的内阁会议。反对派批评他的出席可能会损害该机构的中立性和独立性。这是金智龙自10月2日重案调查室成立以来第二次出席内阁会议。重案调查室的成立是韩国刑事司法改革的一部分，该改革剥夺了检察官的独立调查权。韩国国家警察厅代理厅长金钟哲和代理检察长李正铉也出席了会议。李在明驳斥了这些批评，称其与他监督行政事务的法定权限相冲突。

在议会审计期间，反对派议员辩称，调查和检察机构负责人的出席可能会损害其机构的中立性和独立性。

执政党议员表示，各酋长的在场对于协调国家事务、确保相关机构之间的合作至关重要。

金智龙在审计期间表示，他将在与内政部协商后决定是否继续参加内阁会议。

李在明总统上周三在社交媒体上发帖阐述了自己的观点，称反对派的立场违宪，违背了他的合法权力。

发布于2026年10月27日上午11:41（韩国标准时间）

周二，韩国重案搜查厅首任厅长金智龙（左三）在首尔青瓦台出席内阁会议。（韩联社）

尽管反对派批评金智勇的出席可能会破坏严重犯罪调查厅（SCIA）的中立性和独立性，但这位SCIA的首任厅长还是在周二再次出席了由总统李在明主持的内阁会议。

金正恩的出席标志着他自担任最高刑事司法委员会主席以来第二次参加每周的内阁会议。最高刑事司法委员会于10月2日成立，是刑事司法改革的一部分，旨在剥夺检察官的独立调查权。

韩国国家警察厅代理厅长金钟哲和代理检察长李正铉也出席了内阁会议。

在最近一次国会审计李光耀政府期间，关于调查和检控机构负责人是否适合参加内阁会议，爆发了激烈的辩论。

反对派议员认为他们的出席可能会损害其机构的中立性和独立性，而执政党议员则反驳说，他们的出席对于协调国家事务和确保相关机构之间的合作是必要的。

国家审计署署长金在审计会议上表示，他了解反对党的担忧，将在与内政部协商后决定是否继续参加内阁会议。

李显龙总统驳斥了反对派议员的批评，他在上周三的社交媒体帖子中表示，他们的论点违宪，与总统监督行政事务的合法权力相悖。