On the 31st, the presidential office said regarding the Democratic Party of Korea recommending attorney Choi Gil-su, a former prosecutor (60, 23rd class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), as a special inspector candidate, "If the National Assembly recommends a special inspector candidate after a plenary vote, the presidential office will proceed swiftly with the appointment in accordance with procedure."
Seong Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public affairs, said in a media notice that day, "President Lee Jae-myung has emphasized the need to appoint a special inspector since his inauguration press conference in July last year and has since repeatedly requested and proposed it," and made the announcement.
Earlier, Han Byeong-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a National Assembly press briefing that day that he would recommend Choi as the Democratic Party's nominee for special inspector at the presidential office. Han said, "He served as head of the special investigations division at the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office and as chief of the Andong Branch of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, and worked in the inspection division at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, making him an expert in inspections," adding, "He is the right person to perform his duties independently from the public's perspective without leaning toward any camp," explaining the background for the recommendation.
The post of special inspector at the presidential office, who investigates corruption by the president's relatives and close aides, has been vacant for 10 years. Attorney Lee Seok-su, the first special inspector, stepped down in September 2016 before even serving half of his three-year term, and no successor has been appointed since. Although President Lee Jae-myung announced his plan to appoint a special inspector after taking office, the seat remained vacant for more than a year.
Under the Special Inspector Act, the National Assembly must recommend in writing to the president three candidates for special inspector from among attorneys with at least 15 years of experience as a judge, prosecutor, or attorney. The president must designate one of the candidates within three days of receiving the recommendation, and the nominee is appointed after a National Assembly confirmation hearing. The People Power Party recommended attorney Kang Ji-sik as a special inspector candidate back in April.