Lee welcomes launch of new serious crimes agency, vows to 'watch and trust' chief Kim

President Lee Jae Myung marked the first day of work Friday for Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural director of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, saying he "congratulates the agency's launch together with the people."

Lee posted on X, formerly Twitter, that "hopes and concerns are intertwined" over the new separation of investigation and indictment — a system being introduced for the first time in decades since the founding of the government — and particularly over the agency itself.

He urged the agency to investigate "corruption by the powerful that destroys the lives of ordinary, hardworking people — white-collar crime, financial and securities crime, and other serious offenses — swiftly and strictly, without regard to friend or foe, and with a sense of historical responsibility, firm courage, and complete impartiality." He added that the agency, born out of "national growing pains," must "dispel the distrust and concerns of some and prove its reason for existence and necessity through results and achievements."

"Together with the people, I will trust and watch over Director Kim Ji-yong and the investigators of the agency," he said.

Lee gave final approval to Kim's appointment Thursday, 38 days after Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung formally recommended Kim on Sept. 7. The agency, which opened Oct. 2, has now welcomed its first director roughly two weeks after beginning operations.

Kim reported for duty Friday and began official work. The agency said he "arrived at work as normal and is expected to carry out his duties normally, including receiving briefings."

The appointment drew attention because it came after a prolonged vetting dispute within the ruling camp following Kim's nomination.

President Lee had initially planned to submit a confirmation hearing request to the National Assembly promptly after Kim was recommended, but held off for additional vetting after some within the broader ruling bloc raised objections over Kim's conduct during his time as a prosecutor and his commitment to prosecutorial reform.

Hard-liners within the ruling camp argued that Kim was a former prosecutor aligned with ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol, sparking a debate over whether he was fit to lead the new agency tasked with driving prosecutorial reform. Lee himself posted on social media last month pushing back against the "pro-Yoon prosecutor" label by citing details of Kim's record.

Cheong Wa Dae doubled down on its position that there were no grounds to block the appointment. Presidential communications secretary Seong Ki-hong said on a radio program Thursday that Kim's qualifications had been "explained so well that it is hard to point to any flaw or disqualifying factor." He added that "what matters now is channeling energy and effort into settling the newly launched agency and the sweeping transformation of the criminal justice system."

The message was clear: rather than prolonging the dispute over Kim's suitability, all sides should rally behind getting the new investigative body up and running.

However, it remains unclear whether the appointment will fully resolve the divisions within the ruling camp.

While the confirmation process is now complete, observers say the debate over the direction of prosecutorial reform and the operating principles of the new agency is far from over. How Kim runs the agency and how capable he proves himself in actual investigations is expected to determine which way that debate goes.

Also drawing attention is the disciplinary review under way against Im Eun-jeong, director of the Gwangju branch of the agency. Should the review result in a heavy disciplinary measure — going beyond a minor penalty or a caution — there is a risk that the intra-ruling-camp tensions that flared during Kim's vetting process could resurface, as some hard-liners may interpret such an outcome as retaliation for the criticism they raised.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min, a member of the National Assembly's Interior and Safety Committee, appeared on the YouTube program "Kim Eojun's Humility Is Hard News Factory" and said of Kim that "we vetted him through the confirmation hearing and laid bare his shortcomings, regrettable aspects, and even his negatives," adding, "He became director of the agency carrying all of that."

Park said the Assembly would not simply stand by if Kim failed to perform. "If he doesn't work hard, do you think we'll just leave him alone?" he said. "We will keep watching to make sure he does his job well."

Fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Yun Geon-yeong also weighed in, saying, "We looked carefully through the confirmation process, public opinion was taken into account, and I believe the appointment was made after going through all of that." He added, "I think we must respect the president's appointment authority."

"I don't think there is any other path to take at this point," he said, "and from now on, the National Assembly — myself included — needs to keep a sharper eye on things."