People Power Party, Internal Review of Introducing 'Special Inspector'

Concerns Rise Amid Release of Kim Geon-hee's Call
Ruling Party's Move to Block 'Power Privatization' Offensive

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Inside the People Power Party, voices are emerging calling for the establishment of a 'Presidential Special Inspector' to block improper interference in state affairs by the president's family and relatives in the event of future administration.

According to multiple People Power Party officials on the 2nd, there is a growing sentiment that if candidate Yoon wins the presidential election and takes office, the currently ineffective Presidential Special Inspector system should be fully operational.

The Special Inspector should institutionalize the regular collection and investigation of information and public opinion regarding misconduct by the president, relatives, and key aides, and regularly report these findings to the president to discuss solutions.

The Special Inspector system was introduced to continuously monitor misconduct by the president's relatives and close aides, but since former Special Inspector Lee Seok-soo resigned in 2016, the position has remained vacant throughout the Moon Jae-in administration.

The discussion of the Special Inspector within the People Power Party has been significantly influenced by the recent release of recorded phone conversations involving Kim Geon-hee. In a '7-hour conversation' with Lee Myung-soo, a reporter from the YouTube channel Seoul's Voice, Kim reportedly said, "If I take power, they will not be safe there."

The ruling party has seized on this to launch a focused offensive, citing the possibility of 'privatization of power.' Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung criticized the '7-hour conversation' in a JTBC interview on the 30th of last month, saying, "The most fatal part is 'If I take power, I will not leave the media companies alone,' which clearly expresses an intention to abuse power."

The People Power Party's call for the introduction of the Special Inspector is interpreted as a strategic move to preempt such attacks from the ruling party during the presidential election process. Earlier, candidate Yoon even mentioned abolishing the Blue House's Second Office, which supports the First Lady, following allegations of false credentials against Kim last December.