President Lee Jae Myung poses for a photo with Kim Ji-yong after presenting him with his appointment letter as chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung poses for a photo with Kim Ji-yong after presenting him with his appointment letter as chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung presented an appointment letter to Kim Ji-yong, the new chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, on Monday, urging him to "handle matters that have drawn public suspicion according to principles, without taking sides."

Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that Lee presented appointment letters to seven minister-level officials and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief at Cheong Wa Dae that afternoon.

Among those who received appointment letters at the ceremony was Song Du-hwan, chair of the Special Investigation Committee on the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush, along with Lee Hyeong-il as deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, Kang Shin-cheol as minister of national defense, Hong Ji-seon as minister of land, infrastructure and transport, Lee So-yeong as minister of SMEs and startups, Ha Jun-gyeong as presidential chief policy secretary, and Lim Gi-geun as head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

After the ceremony, Lee held a tea meeting with the appointees. He asked Song whether any questions surrounding the Oct. 29 disaster still lingered in the public's mind, and said such concerns must be fully addressed.

Lee then told Kim, "You've worked hard through a lot." The remark was seen as a gesture of consolation for the difficulties Kim faced from hardliners within the ruling camp during his confirmation hearing.

Lee added that Kim "must always remember that many people are watching, and that the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency must earn public recognition for its reason to exist."

Turning to the other newly appointed ministers, Lee urged them to "share your opinions freely" and told them to "reach out anytime."


sang@heraldcorp.com