President Lee formally appoints inaugural chief of Serious Crime Investigation Agency

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday formally appointed Kim Ji-yong as the inaugural chief of the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA). The agency, which operates under the interior ministry, is tasked with major investigations. The appointment was approved after a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for Kim, a longtime prosecutor, 38 days after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended him for the post on September 7. Kim's nomination had faced opposition from some lawmakers who argued his appointment could hinder prosecution reform due to his background under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The Lee administration ordered additional vetting, and allegations against Kim were found to be untrue. The SCIA was launched on October 2 as part of a significant overhaul of the criminal justice system, aiming to reduce the prosecution's investigative powers amid criticism of politically motivated probes. Kim has pledged to ensure the agency's political neutrality and independence.