President Lee Jae-myung rebuts controversy over nominee Kim Ji-yong's 'pro-Yoon prosecutor' ties

President Lee Jae-myung on Monday defended Kim Ji-yong, his nominee to head the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, amid controversy over Kim's ties to the 'Prosecutors' Association to Defend the Republic of Korea' (known as pro-Yoon prosecutors). Sharing a post in which a user opposed the appointment, saying 'supporters will defect if Kim is appointed,' Lee pushed back: 'He is not pro-Yoon; in fact, media reports confirm he acted against Yoon.'

Lee cited Kim's career within the prosecution service as evidence. 'As verified by the government based on objective evidence, Kim was promoted to senior prosecutor by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae during the Moon Jae-in administration,' the president said. 'He served as head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' criminal division under Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, and ordered a fresh investigation into the case of Yoon's mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, over charges of suborning perjury, seeking an indictment.' Lee added: 'Because of this, after Yoon's election as president, Kim was demoted to a district deputy chief prosecutor and eventually resigned, effectively forced out.'

'He was the biggest victim of the Yoon Seok-youl regime's political prosecution, and preventing such abuse from recurring is one of this government's top priorities,' Lee said, adding, 'I trust that those calling him a pro-Yoon political prosecutor are not doing so knowingly based on falsehoods.'

Lee also laid out his view on the conditions for legitimate criticism. 'If claims are made knowingly on false grounds simply to smear and attack someone, that is not criticism but defamation, and not counsel on state affairs but obstruction of governance,' he said. 'Criticism and advice on state affairs can be offered freely, but they only carry meaning as genuine criticism and advice when based on facts,' he stressed. He continued: 'Even criticism and opinions based on false claims, if made without intent—in honest error after being misled by someone—can be fully accepted and corrected in the public arena.'

At a briefing on Tuesday, presidential senior secretary for public affairs Sung Ki-hong confirmed the facts of Kim's career—his promotion to senior prosecutor in 2020, the fresh investigation order in July 2021, his demotion to district deputy chief prosecutor in June 2022, and his resignation from the prosecution in August 2023—and said the 'pro-Yoon' claims were untrue.