Push for Appointment of 'Special Inspector' to Monitor President's Family and Chief Secretaries
President Lee Jae-myung is pursuing the appointment of a 'Special Inspector', a deputy minister-level political position, to oversee the president's relatives and associates.
According to the Chosun Ilbo on the 3rd, the 'Special Inspector', which has been vacant for over 8 years, is set to be appointed.
The position has remained unfilled since its introduction during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2014 by the Democratic Party, following the resignation of the first Special Inspector, Lee Seok-soo, without a successor being appointed.
Recently, during a meeting with aides, President Lee reportedly directed the push for the appointment of the Special Inspector, stating, "We all need to be monitored."
The targets of the Special Inspector's oversight include the president's spouse, relatives within the fourth degree, and public officials of chief secretary level or higher in the President's Office.
The scope of oversight includes issues related to personnel, such as improper solicitations, acceptance of bribes, embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds, and contracts with public enterprises and related organizations. Therefore, the need for appointing a Special Inspector has been raised whenever issues regarding the president's relatives or high-ranking aides arise.
The appointment of the Special Inspector will be made by the president from three candidates recommended by the National Assembly, following a confirmation hearing. In this regard, a representative from the President's Office told the Chosun Ilbo, "We will soon request recommendations from the National Assembly."
The appointment of the Special Inspector was part of President Lee's campaign promises. During the election, President Lee stated, "I will strengthen the monitoring functions related to the president's relatives," promising the appointment of a Special Inspector and the assurance of substantial authority.
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol also pledged during his campaign to appoint a Special Inspector, stating, "I will fully accept the recommendations made by the National Assembly."
However, the recommendation of candidates in the National Assembly fell through, and it has been reported that former President Yoon did not have the will to appoint someone to the position.
Thus, the position of Special Inspector has remained vacant for over 8 years, yet nearly 1 billion won has been allocated annually for office rental and personnel costs for dispatched officials.
This situation has led to criticism regarding the waste of budget without purpose, and some interpret President Lee's directive to start the appointment process as an attempt to differentiate his administration from previous ones. However, there are also interpretations that suggest it remains to be seen whether an actual appointment will occur.
Image sources: President Lee Jae-myung / News1, Special Inspector's Office in Cheongjin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul / News1, Former Special Inspector Lee Soo-seok / News1
