President Lee Jae-myung on the 24th nominated attorney Choi Gil-soo, the candidate recommended by the ruling Democratic Party, as special inspector, a post that monitors misconduct by the president's relatives and senior aides. The nomination comes about 10 years after Lee Seok-soo, the first special inspector, resigned in 2016.
Presidential Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced the decision in a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center. Choi, a graduate of the 23rd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, previously served as head of the special investigation division at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, a prosecutor in the inspection division of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and head of the major economic crime investigation team at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. Kang described Choi as "a legal professional with expertise in inspections and in investigating abuse-of-power corruption," and "the right person to block misconduct by the president's relatives and key aides and to restore discipline in public office."
The special inspector conducts inspections of officials including the president's spouse and relatives within the fourth degree of kinship, as well as senior secretaries of the presidential secretariat. The term runs three years. The National Assembly had earlier recommended three candidates for the post: Choi, attorney Kang Ji-sik (recommended by the People Power Party), and attorney Choi Yong-hoon (recommended by the Korean Bar Association). Explaining why Choi was chosen over the candidates recommended by the opposition party and the bar association, Kang said the decision was "because he was judged to be a neutral figure not leaning toward any particular party or camp."
Once Choi is officially inaugurated after passing a parliamentary confirmation hearing, the special inspector post, which has been vacant for about 10 years, will be formally revived. No one has been appointed to the position since Lee resigned as the first special inspector in September 2016, during the Park Geun-hye administration. The Office of the Special Inspector plans to form a team to prepare for the confirmation hearing soon.
