Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has nominated a former senior prosecutor as the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency ahead of the new investigation body's scheduled launch next month, a presidential spokesperson said Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee plans to refer the nomination of Kim Ji-yong, former chief of the criminal affairs department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to the National Assembly for a confirmation hearing. The announcement came after Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung recommended Kim to Lee for appointment as head of the new agency.
The new agency is scheduled to launch on Oct. 2 and will assume investigative authorities after prosecutors are stripped of all investigative powers under a revised Criminal Procedure Act. Describing Kim as well-versed in investigations, Kang Yu-jung, the presidential spokesperson, stated that Kim is well suited for the task of promptly establishing and leading the new agency.