Lim Eun-jung Criticizes Candidate for Head of CMS; Minister of Interior Announces "Inspection Order"

3-Line Summary
ㆍMinister of Interior orders inspection of Lim Eun-jung, Head of Gwangju CMS
ㆍConcerns over CMS becoming a political entity and criticism of past prosecution practices
ㆍControversy over institutional independence based on Article 6 of the CMS Act
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety. /News1
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung stated on the 11th that he would instruct the CMS to launch an inspection into Lim Eun-jung, Head of the Gwangju Regional CMS, who has been publicly criticizing Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the first Commissioner of the CMS.
Minister Yoon expressed this via X (formerly Twitter) around 11:45 AM that day, stating, "Commissioner Lim seems to be mistaken in thinking that the CMS is a political institution rather than an investigative one."
Minister Yoon added, "Many citizens are watching with concern as an executive of a newly established agency focuses solely on pointing fingers at the CMS Commissioner nominee," and "I am worried that the wrong practices of the past prosecution, such as political interference and collective action, might be transferred to the CMS."
He continued, "The verification of the CMS Commissioner nominee will be conducted by the President, the appointing authority, and the National Assembly, which is responsible for personnel hearings, in accordance with the Constitution and laws." He also noted, "Ensuring discipline regarding behavior that is unbecoming of a high-ranking public official and inconsistent with the agency's mission will also be part of the prosecutorial reform mandated by the sovereign people."
Minister Yoon's inspection order is based on the 'Act on the Organization and Operation of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (hereinafter referred to as the CMS Act).' Article 6 of the CMS Act stipulates, "The Minister of the Interior and Safety shall generally direct and supervise the Commissioner of the CMS and its employees. However, regarding specific cases, the Minister shall direct and supervise only the Commissioner of the CMS."
Since last month, while serving as the Head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, Commissioner Lim has been questioning Kim's past conduct within the prosecution and demanding the withdrawal of his nomination. Last month, she publicly demanded the withdrawal of the nomination via social media by citing Kim's career history, and she has continued her criticism even after being appointed as the Head of the Gwangju Regional CMS.
Commissioner Lim also requested to be called as a witness for Kim's personnel hearing. While the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee resolved during a plenary session on the 7th to hold the hearing on the 14th, Lim was excluded from the witness list. Subsequently, on the 8th, Lim posted on Facebook, "I thought I would at least be summoned as a person of interest, so I am very disappointed," adding, "History will record and evaluate the fact that I was not even selected as a person of interest due to opposition from the Democratic Party."
Lim Eun-jung, Head of the Gwangju Regional Serious Crime Investigation Agency, answers questions from reporters during her commute in front of the Gwangju CMS in Jungheung-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Jeonnam, on the morning of the 6th. /Yonhap News