Kim Ji-yong, Former Prosecutor, Named as Candidate for the First Commissioner of the Invited Heavy Crime Investigation Agency

Attorney Kim Jiyong, a former prosecutor, has been nominated as the first commissioner candidate for the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, which is set to launch in October. If President Lee Jaemyung appoints him, the final appointment process will proceed after a parliamentary confirmation hearing. Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung announced at a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul on the 7th that he had decided to recommend Attorney Kim based on the candidate recommendation committee's suggestion. Minister Yoon explained that, since the expertise of the prosecution needs to be transferred to the MCIA, he based the decision on the ability to realize the purpose of reform rather than on whether the candidate had come from the prosecution. Candidate Kim previously served as chief of the special investigation division at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, chief of Criminal Trial Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and head of Inspection Division 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He also served as deputy chief prosecutor at the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office, chief of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, and head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. After retiring in 2023, he has worked as an attorney at Apex Law Firm. However, while serving as head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2022, Candidate Kim had previously publicly opposed abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority. Minister Yoon said this does not appear to be a denial of the purpose of prosecution reform, adding that further explanation will be provided at the confirmation hearing.