![Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ju-min (left) holds a press conference at the National Assembly's communication room on Sept. 14, calling for the passage of special legislation related to past human rights violations, including a bill on civil retrials for victims of emergency decrees. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/12/news-p.v1.20261012.c44f4d7bd12b4d37a657a6a0bef5dcf9_P1.jpg)
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ju-min said he would closely question Kim Ji-yong, nominee for director of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, about his conduct during his years as a prosecutor at the upcoming confirmation hearing.
Park made the remarks Monday on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," saying he would press Kim on his strong public opposition to the redistribution of investigative authority between prosecutors and police while he was a civil servant at the prosecution service.
Park also flagged Kim's past participation in collective expressions of opinion as another area of scrutiny. He said Kim had led prosecutors in collectively voicing opposition to the disciplinary action taken against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol in 2020, despite being a civil servant at the time.
"I have repeatedly raised the problem of prosecutors — civil servants — continuing to speak out as if the rules that apply to other civil servants do not apply to them," Park said. "I will address that." He added that many members of the public had criticized prosecutors for publicly weighing in on personnel matters in the past, and that steps needed to be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Kim's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.
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