[Anchor]
The position of the Special Inspector General, responsible for monitoring the president's relatives and senior presidential office officials, has been vacant for nearly 10 years. Following the People Power Party, the Democratic Party also recommended a candidate yesterday (the 31st), raising expectations that the appointment process will get back on track.
Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has more.
[Reporter]
The special inspector general system was first introduced in 2014 during the Park Geun-hye administration.
It exclusively investigates corruption and misconduct by the president's spouse, relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity, and officials at the level of senior presidential secretary or higher. Although affiliated with the president, the office maintains job independence.
The inaugural Special Inspector General, Lee Seok-soo, appointed in 2015, investigated allegations including the embezzlement of funds by the family company of then-Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo. However, following conflicts with the presidential office, he resigned in September 2016, failing to complete his three-year term.
Over the subsequent 10 years spanning the Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol administrations, no successor special inspector general was appointed.
Because the role involves inspecting relatives and close aides, critics have argued that presidents privately delayed the appointment, viewing the position as a burdensome thorn in their side.
President Lee Jae-myung promised the appointment early in his term.
[President Lee Jae-myung (Press Conference Marking 30 Days in Office, July of Last Year): I have already instructed that a request for the appointment of the Special Inspector General be made to the National Assembly. It is important to prevent misfortune from happening, including to my family.]
About a year after President Lee's request, the Democratic Party yesterday recommended attorney Choi Gil-soo, who previously worked in the inspection department of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, as a candidate for the special inspector general.
[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: He is a figure who was recommended (in 2019) by the Bareunmirae Party during the consultation process for special inspector general candidates among the three negotiating bodies. He does not lean toward any political faction and aligns with the public eye...]
The People Power Party nominated attorney Kang Ji-shik, a former prosecutor, three months ago.
The Special Inspector General Act stipulates that the National Assembly recommends three candidates, and the president appoints one.
With two candidates now recommended, the ruling and opposition parties plan to consult on the method for recommending the remaining candidate.
The presidential office stated that once candidates are recommended through a resolution of the National Assembly, the appointment will be made promptly in accordance with due procedure.
(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Oh Young-taek | Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
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