Who is the first chief of South Korea’s Serious Crime Investigation Agency?

Longtime prosecutor Kim Ji-yong became the inaugural chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency after President Lee Jae Myung formally approved his appointment. The agency operates under the interior ministry and handles major investigations.

When was Kim Ji-yong appointed as chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency?

President Lee Jae Myung formally appointed Kim Ji-yong on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. The appointment came 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended him on Sept. 7 and after a parliamentary confirmation hearing report was adopted.

Why was the Serious Crime Investigation Agency created?

The SCIA was created during a major criminal justice overhaul that removed prosecutors’ power to conduct direct investigations. The restructuring followed criticism that prosecutors had pursued politically motivated probes, and Kim said he would safeguard political neutrality and investigative independence.

Lee formally appoints inaugural chief of agency in charge of major investigations

Listen

Summary

President Lee Jae Myung formally appointed Kim Ji-yong as chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency in South Korea on Thursday. The appointment followed parliamentary confirmation review and came 38 days after the interior minister recommended Kim. The SCIA, launched Oct. 2 under the interior ministry, is responsible for major investigations after prosecutors lost their direct-investigation powers. Kim pledged to protect political neutrality and investigative independence.

Key Facts

The National Assembly’s public administration and security committee adopted Kim Ji-yong’s confirmation hearing report one day after his hearing, incorporating both favorable and unfavorable opinions.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended Kim for the post on Sept. 7.
The presidential office said allegations against Kim were found to be untrue after the Lee administration ordered additional vetting.
The SCIA was established as part of a criminal justice overhaul responding to criticism that prosecutors had pursued politically motivated investigations.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 15, 2026 8:59 pm KST

Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, speaks during his parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday formally appointed the inaugural chief of the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), which is in charge of major investigations under the interior ministry.

Lee approved the appointment after a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for longtime prosecutor Kim Ji-yong, 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended him for the post Sept. 7.

Earlier in the day, the National Assembly's public administration and security committee adopted the confirmation hearing report, a day after holding Kim's confirmation hearing. The report included both favorable and unfavorable opinions on Kim's suitability for the post.

Kim's nomination had drawn opposition from some lawmakers, including members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who argued that his appointment could set back prosecution reform, citing his background as a prosecutor under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The Lee administration had ordered additional vetting, and the presidential office later said the allegations against him had been found to be untrue.

The SCIA was launched Oct. 2 as part of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system that strips prosecutors of their power to conduct direct investigations amid criticism that they had pursued politically motivated probes.

Kim has pledged to end the "politicization" of investigations and ensure the new agency safeguards political neutrality and the independence of investigations.

Explore More