President Lee Jae Myung has approved a request for a National Assembly confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, his nominee to become the inaugural chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. Cheong Wa Dae is expected to submit the request after an additional verification process upheld Kim's nomination. The SCIA is set to launch later on Oct. 2 alongside the renamed Public Prosecution Service, which will retain responsibility for indicting suspects and maintaining indictments while the new agency takes over serious-crime investigations. Kim was nominated early last month at the recommendation of the interior minister, but members of the ruling Democratic Party questioned whether he had previously opposed prosecution reform. Lee has defended the nomination against criticism of Kim's prosecutorial background and alleged ties to former President Yoon Suk-yeol, while Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae has opposed the selection.