Who is Kim Ji-yong and what is his main pledge as SCIA chief?

Kim Ji-yong is the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. He has pledged to end the politicization of investigations and establish the SCIA as an agency that upholds fairness, neutrality and procedural justice.

When was the Serious Crime Investigation Agency launched and why was it created?

The SCIA launched on Oct. 2 as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system. The reforms stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers and created the agency amid criticism that prosecutors had pursued politically motivated investigations.

How will the SCIA seek to prevent politicized investigations?

Kim said the SCIA will prevent politicization by strictly upholding fairness, neutrality and procedural justice. He attributed harms under the previous prosecution system to the abuse of investigative powers and said the new agency should be one the public does not have to worry about.

Inaugural SCIA chief reaffirms pledge to end 'politicization' of investigations

Listen

Summary

Kim Ji-yong, chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, reiterated Monday in South Korea his pledge to end the politicization of investigations. He was appointed Thursday to lead the newly launched agency after criminal justice reforms stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers. Kim said the SCIA would uphold fairness, neutrality and procedural justice. The agency launched on Oct. 2 amid criticism that prosecutors had pursued politically motivated investigations.

Key Facts

The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of reforms to the prosecution system.
Kim Ji-yong said the previous prosecution caused harm by abusing investigative powers.
The criminal justice overhaul stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers.
Kim had made ending the politicization of investigations a priority while serving as the agency’s nominee.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 19, 2026 10:19 am KST

Kim Ji-yong, head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, speaks to reporters as he arrives at his office in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) on Monday reiterated his pledge to end the "politicization" of investigations.

Kim Ji-yong was appointed to lead the newly launched agency Thursday following a major overhaul to the criminal justice system earlier this month that stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers.

"The previous prosecution caused various harms, such as abusing investigative powers, and I think the root cause of that lies with the politicization of investigations," he told reporters.

"The SCIA will establish itself as an investigative agency that the public will not have to worry about by strictly upholding fairness, neutrality and procedural justice."

Kim, as nominee, had vowed to prioritize ending the "politicization" of investigations.

The SCIA was launched on Oct. 2 as part of reforms to the prosecution amid criticism that prosecutors pursued politically motivated investigations.

Explore More