Kim Ji-yong, the first chief of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, said he would raise public trust in investigations by making procedural justice the agency's basic principle. The goal, he said, is to firmly establish political neutrality and independence while leading efforts to protect citizens' rights.
"We will not be swayed by improper outside pressure and will investigate fairly, guided only by the law and the evidence," Kim said at his inauguration ceremony on the 20th at the agency's headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. "With procedural justice as the basic principle of our investigations, we will thoroughly guard against probes aimed at specific individuals, investigations into unrelated matters and fishing expeditions."
Kim laid out a blueprint for leading the agency around five principles: securing political neutrality and investigative independence, procedural justice, protection of citizens' rights, stronger expertise and a fair organizational culture. "By separating investigative and prosecutorial functions, a new criminal justice system begins in which each institution fulfills its own role and responsibility and the two check and balance each other," he said. "The agency bears the heavy responsibility of responding sternly to major crimes from the center of that change."
"The most important asset of an investigative body is the trust of the people," he continued. "We will investigate according to principle, based on objective evidence and scientific investigative techniques, and if the suspected criminal conduct is not sufficiently supported, we will reach the conclusion that is warranted." To that end, the agency plans to embed a system of accountable investigation internally while strengthening investigative expertise to respond effectively to major crimes that are becoming increasingly sophisticated, organized and complex in method.
Kim closed by saying, "As the first chief of this agency, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility and mission. I will set the standard for a new criminal justice system that will last for decades, protect the human rights of the people and serve as a pillar shielding society from major crime."