Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has reiterated his appeal to the National Assembly for the prompt initiation of procedures to appoint a special inspector general to investigate corruption involving the president's family, a senior aide revealed on Sunday. In a press briefing, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik emphasized that President Lee sees the appointment of an independent inspector general as vital for overseeing misconduct by the president's spouse and close relatives. This move is part of broader efforts to enforce stricter discipline among public officials and bolster public trust.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang stated, "Lee believes the appointment of an inspector general is necessary in accordance with the principles of democracy and people's sovereignty that 'all powers must be monitored through institutions.'" Kang further urged the National Assembly to swiftly resume the procedures, highlighting the president's strong commitment to this initiative. The independent inspector general position was originally established in 2014 under President Park Geun-hye but has remained vacant since 2016. By law, the National Assembly is required to recommend three candidates with a minimum of 15 years of legal experience, from which the president must select one.
Despite President Lee's campaign pledge to fill the post promptly, progress has stalled in the Assembly. In response, Rep. Han Byung-do, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, announced that the party would "swiftly" commence legal procedures to recommend candidates for the special inspector general role. Han also urged the main opposition People Power Party to engage calmly in consultations regarding the recommendation process, as expressed on his Facebook page.
However, the People Power Party dismissed Lee's request as a "political show" in the lead-up to the June 3 local elections and insisted that Cheong Wa Dae should accept a candidate recommended by the opposition party.