President Lee Jae-myung on the 24th nominated attorney Choi Gil-su, 60, a former prosecutor, as candidate for special inspector to investigate misconduct by the president's relatives and senior aides. Because Choi was recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea as one of the three nominees allotted to the National Assembly, he is expected to pass the Assembly's confirmation hearing without difficulty. If Lee makes the final appointment, the post left vacant for 10 years since the 2016 resignation of inaugural Special Inspector Lee Seok-su will be filled.
Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, said at a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that "Choi is a legal professional with expertise in inspections and investigations into power-related corruption," adding that "based on thorough principle-based discipline and inspection capability, he is the right person to independently carry out his duties, block corruption by the president's relatives and key aides, and restore discipline in public office."
Choi, a native of Paju, Gyeonggi, graduated from Myungji High School in Seoul and the law department at Seoul National University. After passing the 33rd bar exam (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 23), he served as chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, chief prosecutor of Trial Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and a prosecutor in the Inspection Division at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. He left the prosecution in 2017 and has worked as the managing attorney at the law firm A-PRO.
He was also a figure recommended in 2019 by the Bareunmirae Party, then an opposition party under the Moon Jae-in administration, as a candidate for special inspector. Kang, the senior spokesperson, said, "He also has a record of being recommended by the opposition in the past," adding, "He is a neutral figure not inclined toward any particular party or camp." Kang also said, "In line with the president's principle that all power requires institutional oversight, he is determined to conduct independent inspections according to the law and principles," adding, "Through uncompromising oversight of public officials, we expect Choi to enhance trust in the public sector."