It was reported on the 2nd that President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the procedures to appoint a special inspector to monitor and prevent corruption involving presidential relatives. The position of special inspector has remained vacant for eight years since Lee Seok-soo, who was appointed during the Park Geun-hye administration, resigned in 2016.
The spokesperson's office of the presidential office announced on the 3rd, "We are reviewing the appointment of a special inspector at the direction of President Lee Jae-myung."
President Lee has reportedly instructed to promote the appointment of a special inspector during a recent staff meeting. At a "30-day inauguration press conference" on that day, President Lee stated, "I have directed the appointment of the special inspector," adding, "It may be uncomfortable, but it is important to prevent people close to my family, including myself, from experiencing misfortune."
The immediate appointment of a special inspector is also part of President Lee's campaign pledge. The special inspector is a Vice Minister-level position. The National Assembly will recommend three candidates, from which the president will appoint one, subject to a confirmation hearing by the National Assembly.
The special inspector system was introduced in 2014 during the Park Geun-hye administration to continuously oversee the conduct of the president's spouse, relatives within four degrees of consanguinity, and high-ranking public officials above the level of senior secretary in the presidential office. It aimed to prevent the repeated corruption of presidential families and close aides seen in past administrations. However, under the administrations of Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk-yeol, the system has not been appointed and has been left unattended due to the standoff between the ruling and opposition parties.
The opposition party also stated that it would actively cooperate with the recommendation of the special inspector. Park Seong-hun, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, told reporters after a parliamentary meeting that "the special inspector has been consistently deemed necessary since the Moon Jae-in administration," adding, "It is essential to eliminate the corruption risks involving the president's close aides and family."
He continued, "Once an official recommendation comes in, the National Assembly is supposed to recommend three candidates, and we intend to cooperate actively."