Sung Ki-hong says 'no flaws in Kim Ji-yong's confirmation hearing'…extra vetting done despite Choo Mi-ae's opposition

Sung Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public communication at the Blue House, said on the 15th that the confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, nominee to be the first chief of the Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (the head of the new agency dedicated to investigating major crimes), was "explained so well that it is hard to point out any flaws or grounds for disqualification (deficiencies that would make appointment difficult)." On CBS Radio's 'Park Sung-tae's News Show' that day, Sung cited the nominee's expertise and commitment to prosecutorial reform, saying the National Assembly's standing committee "will make an appropriate judgment on adopting the confirmation report."

Regarding opposition from hardliners within the ruling camp, such as Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, Sung said the Blue House had conducted additional vetting, adding that "labeling the nominee as 'pro-Yoon' without factual basis is a political stigma."

That day, the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee adopted the confirmation hearing report on the nominee by bipartisan agreement. The report included both the ruling and opposition parties' opinions on his fitness for the post, with the Democratic Party of Korea set to attach its 'fit' opinion alongside.