South Korean lawmakers plan to advance a nominee for a long-vacant office empowered to investigate the president’s family and top aides, a step toward restoring a presidential watchdog after 10 years.
The National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to adopt a confirmation report on former senior prosecutor Choi Kil-su on Thursday, Oct. 22. The office of ruling party committee liaison Kim Eui-kyeom said Oct. 19 that ruling and opposition lawmakers had agreed to include views finding Choi qualified and unqualified.
Choi appeared before lawmakers at a Sept. 18 hearing. President Lee Jae Myung selected him in August after the parties and the bar association put forward three candidates. The presidential office cited Choi’s experience in corruption investigations and internal oversight.
Under the Independent Inspector General Act, the inspector may investigate alleged misconduct involving the president’s spouse, relatives within the fourth degree of kinship and Presidential Secretariat officials at or above senior secretary rank. The inspector serves a three-year term.
The office was established in 2014. Disputes over candidate recommendations have left it vacant since 2016, Yonhap reported. The presidential office has said an appointment would strengthen oversight and public trust.
If the committee adopts the report Oct. 22, Choi’s formal appointment by Lee will be the next step.
