Politics · South Korea · 32 mins ago
South Korea’s Serious Crimes Agency Chief Unsure About Future Cabinet Meetings
Kim Ji-yong attended President Lee Jae-myung’s cabinet meeting for the first time on October 20.
Kim leads South Korea’s Central Investigation Agency for Serious Crimes, which investigates major crimes.
His presence raised concerns that the agency’s independence could be undermined by its proximity to the government.
At a parliamentary hearing on October 26, Kim said he knew some people were concerned and cited laws and rules governing cabinet meetings as the basis for attending.
He did not say whether he would attend regularly, and said he was still considering whether to go to the next meeting, scheduled for October 27.
Lee described the attendance as a normalization of what was abnormal, while Kim said he would refuse to answer if the president asked him about a specific case in private.
South Korea’s Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief Kim Ji-yong said he was unsure whether he would keep attending Cabinet meetings chaired by President Lee Jae-myung.
Kim said he knew some members of the public were concerned about his attendance.
He first attended a Cabinet meeting on October 20, and lawmakers questioned him about it at a parliamentary audit on October 26.
Kim cited legal rules for his attendance and said he was confident he would not answer questions about specific cases in a private meeting.
The civic group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy opposed regular attendance, warning it could harm the appearance of fairness.
- Who
- Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief Kim Ji-yong, President Lee Jae-myung and lawmakers at a parliamentary audit.
- What
- Kim said he was unsure whether he would continue attending Cabinet meetings. His attendance prompted concerns about the agency’s independence.
- When
- Kim addressed the issue on October 26, 2026. He had first attended a Cabinet meeting on October 20.
- Where
- At a National Assembly audit in Seoul; the Cabinet meeting was held at the Blue House.
- Why
- Lawmakers and a civic group raised concerns that attendance could affect the agency’s neutrality and independence.
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
President Lee Jae-myung
Regular attendance
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
The group said regular attendance by heads of related agencies should be avoided to protect the appearance of fairness.
President Lee Jae-myung
Lee described the chief’s attendance at Cabinet meetings as a normalization of the abnormal, according to the Chosun Ilbo headline.
Kim attended a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee for the first time.
At a National Assembly audit, Kim said he was unsure whether he would attend future Cabinet meetings.
The Chosun Ilbo published a headline reporting Lee’s description of the attendance as a normalization of the abnormal.
- First Cabinet meeting
- October 20, 2026
- Parliamentary audit
- National Assembly, October 26, 2026
- Agency chief
- Kim Ji-yong
- Next scheduled meeting
- October 27, 2026
- Legal basis cited
- Constitution, Government Organization Act and Cabinet Meeting Regulations
7 sources
What people are saying
I know some members of the public are concerned.
I think I need to see.
I am confident.
Normalization of the abnormal