Kim Ji-yong, the new Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) chief, attended a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 20th. This followed an instruction from President Lee Jae Myung, breaking the longstanding practice of investigative agency heads, including the Prosecutor General, not attending Cabinet meetings. President Lee has stated his intention to have acting heads of the National Police Agency and the Prosecution Service, whose positions are currently vacant, also attend Cabinet meetings. Legal circles and academia have raised concerns that “the independence of investigations will be compromised,” while the opposition party criticized the move as “a measure aimed at canceling the indictment in the president’s own trial.”
Chief Kim received his appointment certificate from President Lee on October 19 and attended the Cabinet meeting the following day. The day before, when asked whether he would attend the Cabinet meeting during his commute, he responded, “We will review the related laws and regulations, consult with relevant agencies, and make an appropriate decision,” avoiding a clear answer. However, he was present at the meeting that day.
In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting, President Lee stated, “I understand that the SCIA chief is attending today, so I would like to reiterate,” and added, “Regarding major crimes that destroy people’s lives and disrupt social order, such as white-collar crimes, power-related corruption, and securities and financial crimes, I urge you to mobilize all investigative resources without bias or sacred grounds to strictly punish these offenses, thereby proving the existence and necessity of the SCIA to the public.”
At the Cabinet meeting, which was live-streamed via YouTube, Chief Kim was seen sitting between Park Chan-dae, the mayor of Incheon, and Kim Jong-chul, acting commissioner general of the National Police Agency, appearing to jot down President Lee’s remarks on paper. President Lee also asked Chief Kim to make a greeting, to which he responded, “I will do my best to successfully establish the SCIA, complete prosecutorial reform, and protect the rights and interests of the people.”
Former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae stated, “Whether it is the Prosecutor General or the SCIA chief, attending a Cabinet meeting would be unprecedented since the founding of the nation,” adding, “Merely attending the president’s meeting could inevitably influence investigations into the current administration.” The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a civic group with pro-administration tendencies, stated in a commentary on October 15, “The regular attendance of investigative and prosecutorial agency heads at meetings imposes political burdens and undermines the appearance of fairness, even without specific case instructions.”
◇Former Prosecutor Generals: “Can One Oppose a President Seen Weekly?”
President Lee Jae Myung instructed in a December 2025 meeting, “External agencies under ministries should also attend Cabinet meetings.” Since then, acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun and others have been attending meetings starting from January 2026. While attendees of Cabinet meetings typically include the president, prime minister, and state council members, the presiding president may seat public officials in key positions if deemed necessary. However, it had been a longstanding practice across administrations not to seat heads of investigative agencies at Cabinet meetings.
As President Lee broke this precedent by seating acting heads of the SCIA, Prosecution Service, and National Police Agency weekly at Cabinet meetings, criticism persisted that this was an inappropriate directive undermining investigative fairness. However, at a meeting on October 13, President Lee stated that their attendance was “a matter of course” given the president’s oversight of national administration. He questioned what the issue was, as he does not interfere in individual case handling.
Amid this situation, newly appointed SCIA chief Kim Ji-yong attended the Cabinet meeting even before his inauguration ceremony scheduled for that afternoon. In addition to Chief Kim, acting Prosecutor General Lee Jung-hyun and Kim Jong-chul, acting commissioner general of the National Police Agency, also attended the Cabinet meeting that day.
Regarding Chief Kim’s attendance at the Cabinet meeting, legal circles and academia criticized that it could undermine the legal framework allowing the president to command the SCIA chief through the Minister of the Interior and Safety, potentially exerting direct influence on investigations. Lawyer Kim Jong-min stated, “Investigations directed by an SCIA chief who meets the president weekly are bound to face suspicions of fairness and political neutrality.” Professor Cha Jin-a of Korea University remarked, “President Lee demanded a re-nomination, citing that he did not follow the prior consultation practice before nominating Chief Justice Jo Hee-de,” adding, “While demanding the maintenance of bad practices like prior consultations for judicial candidates, why is he disregarding and dismantling the practices respected by past administrations regarding investigative agencies?”
Former prosecutor generals also expressed that attending the meeting was inappropriate. Former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae stated, “Even without direct orders from the president, merely seeing his face could have an impact,” explaining, “That is why prosecutor generals have not attended Cabinet meetings or reported to Cheong Wa Dae until now.” A former prosecutor general, who requested anonymity, criticized the attendance of investigative agency heads at Cabinet meetings as “an undesirable practice that harms the neutrality and independence of investigations,” adding, “It is correct for quasi-judicial officials who decide on investigations or prosecutions not to attend Cabinet meetings.” Another former prosecutor general, B, mentioned that even during past Democratic Party administrations, there was tension and respect between the president and investigative agency heads, stating, “They were not summoned recklessly, and even if summoned, they did not attend. How can one conduct investigations confronting the president if they keep seeing his face?” Former prosecutor general C recalled, “The deputy prosecutor general used to report to the president instead of the prosecutor general,” and added, “If the president mentions issues in fair trade during a Cabinet meeting attended by investigative agency heads, even without naming specific companies, it effectively sets the investigation direction.”
The opposition party claimed that President Lee’s insistence on having investigative agency heads attend Cabinet meetings is “groundwork for canceling indictments.” A People Power Party official stated, “It appears President Lee aims to pressure the SCIA chief, future Prosecution Service head, and National Police Agency head by summoning them weekly to Cheong Wa Dae and ultimately cancel the indictment.” Earlier, in a June 2026 Cabinet meeting, after receiving a report from acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun, President Lee remarked, “Anyone can make mistakes. If one makes a mistake, they should apologize and cancel it.” Although he did not specify which case required an apology and cancellation, the opposition party protested, “This is a blatant order to cancel the indictment and apologize for the president’s own case.” The opposition and legal circles warned, “Similar incidents will likely recur.” An SCIA official stated, “It has not yet been decided whether Chief Kim will continue attending Cabinet meetings.”
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