Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head South Korea's new serious crimes investigation agency, appeared at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, where he spent much of his time addressing questions about his career as a prosecutor, according to 경향신문.
During the session, Kim said the first "political prosecutor" was Yoon Suk-yeol, 경향신문 reported. Asked whether Han Dong-hoon should also be included in that description, Kim said he could not deny it, according to JTBC.
Kim also said he would review establishing rules to prevent the minister from intervening in investigations, MBC News reported.
The hearing drew criticism from both the ruling and opposition sides, with 조선일보 reporting that Kim was called cowardly by figures in both camps.
The nominee is being considered to lead the new agency, a body whose creation has been a contested political issue in South Korea. His record as a prosecutor has become the central focus of the confirmation process, with lawmakers pressing him on past cases and his characterization of former colleagues.
Attention now turns to whether Kim's explanations will satisfy lawmakers ahead of a confirmation vote.
