President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, has decided to nominate attorney Kim Ji-yong (58, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 28), whom Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung recommended as the inaugural Administrator of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the presidential office said on the 7th (local time).
Chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated accordingly at a local briefing that day. Kang said, "Kim, the nominee, is an expert in investigative law and is the right person to quickly stabilize the agency set to launch in October," adding, "Under the new criminal justice system separating investigation and indictment, we expect Kim to successfully lead the agency based on prior investigative experience and organizational management capabilities."
With the presidential office nominating Kim, it is expected to request a confirmation hearing from the National Assembly. After that, President Lee will proceed with the final appointment process.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung earlier selected Kim from among four candidates recommended by the selection committee for the agency's Administrator and recommended Kim to President Lee.
Kim graduated from the law school of Sungkyunkwan University and served as a prosecutor at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, head of the special investigations division at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, chief of the second trial division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, head of the first inspection division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor at the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, head of the criminal affairs bureau at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and deputy chief prosecutor at the Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office. Kim left the prosecution in November 2023 and has worked as an attorney at Apex Law.
The Administrator's term is two years and may not be renewed. The agency the Administrator will lead, starting Oct. 2, will be an investigative body dedicated to seven categories of serious crimes: corruption, economic crimes, narcotics, defense procurement, national protection, cyber, and distortion of the law.