President Lee Jae-myung Nominates Ruling Party-Recommended Choi Gil-su as Special Inspector General Candidate

President Lee Jae-myung has nominated attorney Choi Gil-su as a candidate for Special Inspector General to monitor corruption among the president's relatives and close aides.

If candidate Choi is ultimately appointed following a National Assembly confirmation hearing, the nearly 10-year vacancy of the Special Inspector General position will be resolved, which has persisted since the resignation of the inaugural Special Inspector General Lee Seok-su in September 2016.

Candidate Choi is a graduate of the 23rd Judicial Research and Training Institute and has served as head of the Special Investigation Division at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, head of the Criminal Division at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, a prosecutor in the Inspection Department at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and head prosecutor of the Major Economic Crime Investigation Division at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

Senior Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated, "Candidate Choi is a legal professional with expertise in inspection and the investigation of power-related corruption." She added, "Based on his thorough adherence to principles and inspection capabilities, he is the right person to independently carry out his duties while blocking corruption among the president's relatives and key aides and establishing official discipline."

She further explained, "In accordance with the principle of popular sovereignty that all power must be subject to institutional monitoring, we will be able to enhance public trust through exception-free oversight of public officials."

Previously, alongside the Democratic Party recommending candidate Choi, the main opposition People Power Party recommended attorney Kang Ji-shik, and the Korean Bar Association recommended attorney Choi Yong-hoon.

Regarding this, Senior Spokesperson Kang emphasized, "For reference, candidate Choi Gil-su also has a history of being recommended by the opposition party in the past. He is a neutral figure who does not lean toward a specific party or faction."

She added, "I understand that even during the Park Geun-hye administration, the then Special Inspector General Lee Seok-su, who was recommended by the ruling party, faithfully carried out his duties impartially."

(Photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.