Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung said on the 11th he would direct the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to inspect Gwangju branch chief Im Eun-jung. Im said she would respond with a sense of mission after her criticism of chief nominee Kim Ji-yong was cited as the background.
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Minister Yoon posted on X on the 11th that he would instruct the agency to begin an inspection of Gwangju branch chief Im Eun-jung. Financial News noted that this is the first inspection target nine days after the agency's launch, and the first case of the minister exercising supervisory authority since it opened.
광고 문의 · 300×250Behind it is a dispute over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as the agency's chief. The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Im has publicly opposed President Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Kim since it was made last month, and on the 6th, her first day at the Gwangju office, criticized Kim as having approved questionable matters in the past. The Weekly Kyunghyang reported that Im wrote on social media on the 8th that Kim being the 'first agency chief' made the problem worse, and expressed disappointment that she was not chosen as a witness for the confirmation hearing.
Yoon said Im seems to mistake the agency for a political institution rather than an investigative one, and voiced concern that the prosecution's habits of political involvement and collective action could carry over to the new body. Acting head Jeon Jong-min is to receive the minister's written order, and acting inspector Heo Seong-hwan will handle the review. The agency said it is ready to start immediately.
The legal basis and procedure are also notable. According to Financial News, Article 6 of the agency's organization and operation act gives the interior minister general command and supervision over the chief and staff, while only the chief directs individual cases. Other matters apply the State Public Officials Act; since Im is an investigator at grade 5 or above, a disciplinary committee under the prime minister would deliberate and the minister would impose any sanction. A request for dismissal, removal, demotion or suspension normally leads to removal from post, but for now Im's duties are expected to continue.
Im said on Facebook and elsewhere that being the agency's first inspection target was regrettable and sad, but that she would respond with a sense of mission. She cited her past experience of posting on the internal network against a superior's sentencing instruction, receiving a heavy disciplinary penalty and later winning a cancellation suit, hinting she could fight any sanction in court. With Kim's confirmation hearing set for the 14th, attention is on how the inspection will affect the hearing.
