President requests confirmation hearing for nominee to head new investigation agency

President Lee Jae Myung approved a request for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, his nominee to become the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, a presidential spokesperson said Friday. The request came as the agency was set to launch later in the day under the Lee administration’s prosecution reform. The prosecution service was also due to be renamed the Public Prosecution Service and limited to indicting and maintaining indictments.

Lee nominated Kim Ji-yong early last month at the recommendation of the interior minister.

Suspicions were later raised within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea over claims that Kim had once opposed prosecution reform.

The presidential office said the previous day that it would soon submit a hearing request to the National Assembly and had completed an additional verification process on Kim.

The prosecution service will be renamed the Public Prosecution Service, or PPS.

The PPS will be tasked only with indicting and maintaining indictments against suspects.

Published Oct 2, 2026 8:15 am KST

Kim Ji-yong, nominee for the inaugural head of the planned Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, arrives at his office in central Seoul, Sept. 17. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung has approved a request for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for his nominee to become the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), a presidential spokesperson said Friday.

The announcement came as the SCIA was set to launch later in the day to take over prosecutors' functions of investigating serious crimes as part of the Lee administration's prosecution reform.

Lee's approval of a document requesting a parliamentary hearing for SCIA chief nominee Kim Ji-yong indicates the president might be taking steps to officially appoint him.

The president nominated Kim early last month at the recommendation of the interior minister, but suspicions have since been raised within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, including over claims that Kim had once opposed prosecution reform.

The presidential office said the previous day that Cheong Wa Dae will soon submit a request to the National Assembly for a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Kim.

It said it had carried out an additional verification process on Kim but found that his nomination should remain in place.

Meanwhile, as part of prosecution reform, the prosecution service will be renamed the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and will only be tasked with indicting and maintaining indictments against suspects. The PPS will also set sail later in the day.

总统发言人周五表示，李在明总统已批准对金智溶的提名进行国会确认听证，金智溶将出任首任重案调查厅厅长。此前，该机构计划于当天晚些时候根据李在明政府的检察改革方案正式成立。改革后的检察机关还将更名为公诉厅，其职能也将仅限于提起公诉和维持起诉。

上个月初，李在内政部长的推荐下提名金智勇。

后来，执政的韩国共同民主党内部有人怀疑金正恩曾反对检察改革。

总统府前一天表示，将很快向国会提交听证请求，并已完成对金正恩的进一步核实程序。

检控部门将更名为公共检控部门，简称 PPS。

检控署的任务仅限于对嫌疑人提起诉讼并维持起诉书。

发布于2026年10月2日上午8:15（韩国标准时间）

9月17日，拟任重案调查厅首任厅长的金智龙抵达位于首尔市中心的办公室。（韩联社）

总统发言人周五表示，李在明总统已批准国会对其提名的首任重案调查厅（SCIA）厅长人选进行确认听证的请求。

就在当天晚些时候，特别刑事调查局（SCIA）即将成立，接管检察官调查严重犯罪的职能，这是李光耀政府检察改革的一部分。

李在镕批准了一份要求就最高情报局局长提名人金智勇举行国会听证会的文件，这表明总统可能正在采取措施正式任命他。

上个月初，总统根据内政部长的建议提名金正恩，但此后执政的韩国共同民主党内部出现了疑虑，包括有人声称金正恩曾反对检察改革。

总统府前一天表示，青瓦台将很快向国会提交申请，要求对金正恩举行国会确认听证会。

声明称，已对金正恩进行了额外的核查程序，但认为他的提名应该继续有效。

与此同时，作为检控改革的一部分，检控部门将更名为公共检控署（PPS），其职责仅限于对嫌疑人提起公诉和维持起诉书。公共检控署也将于当天晚些时候启航。