Choi, whom President Lee nominated as special inspector candidate on the 24th, is a figure previously recommended by the ruling Democratic Party on the 31st of last month. The National Assembly approved the recommendation of three candidates with prosecutorial backgrounds — Choi, along with attorney Kang Ji-sik (recommended by the People Power Party) and attorney Choi Yong-hoon (recommended by the Korean Bar Association) — and President Lee selected Choi, the ruling party's recommendation.
Regarding the reason for nominating Choi as special inspector candidate, the presidential office emphasized that he is "a figure who will conduct inspections independently according to law and principle." Born in 1966, Choi is a member of the 23rd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and served as chief of the special investigation division at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office and head of the Andong branch of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office. He worked in the inspection division of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and served as chief prosecutor of the major economic crimes investigation team at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.
The fact that he was previously recommended by the opposition as a special inspector candidate is also seen as having played a role. In 2019, under the Moon Jae-in administration, the then-opposition Bareunmirae Party recommended Choi as the joint special inspector candidate of the three negotiation-bloc parties.
However, the opposition, setting aside such credentials, took issue with the fact that Choi was nominated on the recommendation of the ruling party and signaled rigorous vetting. People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said on Facebook, "It is presumed that the Democratic Party, 'respecting' the president's appointment authority, recommended him after prior consultation and face-to-face reporting with the president," adding, "The presidential office's explanation that he is a 'neutral figure not biased toward any particular camp' invites a wry laugh." This is interpreted as targeting the ruling party, which had called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on grounds that a Supreme Court justice candidate had been nominated without prior consultation with the president. On this point, presidential chief spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung drew a line, saying, "Even under the Park Geun-hye administration, Inspector Lee, who was recommended by the ruling party, carried out his duties strictly."
Legal circles also expect Choi will not be biased toward any particular camp, given that he is close with figures from both the ruling and opposition parties. A legal source said, "I understand Choi was close with former President Yoon Suk-yeol as a classmate at the Judicial Research and Training Institute," while adding, "Within the Democratic Party, he is also a classmate of Rep. Lee Sung-yoon, an anti-Yoon figure, and they are friends; he has generally maintained good relations with most people."
Once the special inspector begins his term in earnest after passing a National Assembly confirmation hearing, the vacancy will be resolved for the first time in about a decade. Attorney Lee Suk-soo, appointed as the first special inspector in March 2015 under the Park Geun-hye administration, clashed with the presidential office during his inspection of then-senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo, and resigned in September 2016. No successor inspector was appointed thereafter.
Discussions on reintroducing the special inspector system gained momentum again in July last year, when President Lee raised the need for it at his 30-day press conference after taking office. President Lee said, "For the sake of one's own security while holding power, it is good for (power) to be checked," adding, "I have ordered the appointment of a special inspector."
Observers say President Lee's revival of the special inspector reflects his recently intensified push for "anti-corruption and establishing public discipline." As he has recently activated the anti-corruption policy council to establish discipline in the public sector, there is also symbolic significance in prioritizing the strengthening of oversight within the power structure. However, some point out that the nomination of a special inspector is only the beginning, and that to function properly, independence must be protected by guaranteeing authority and tenure.
How to divide functions with existing power-oversight bodies is also a challenge. Lee Jae-muk, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, explained, "There will be an effect of highlighting transparency through the president's oversight and checks on his own close aides," while adding, "How to differentiate its role from existing investigative and oversight bodies such as the prosecution, the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the senior secretary's office for civil affairs is important." Meanwhile, if necessary for carrying out duties, the special inspector can request the dispatch of public officials from related agencies such as the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the National Police Agency, and the National Tax Service, with the number of dispatched personnel capped at 20.
