President Lee Orders Appointment of Special Inspector to Oversee Misconduct by Presidential Spouse and Relatives

At Senior Staff Meeting: "Even the President Should Be Subject to Institutional Oversight"...
Orders to Move Forward with Procedures
Vacant Since the Park Geunhye Administration

President Lee Jaemyung has reportedly instructed the administration to proceed with the appointment of a special inspector tasked with monitoring misconduct by the president’s relatives, including the presidential spouse?a key pledge from his presidential campaign.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the Office of the President on July 3, President Lee recently directed senior aides and advisors during a meeting to move forward with the procedures for appointing a special inspector. An official from the presidential office stated, “President Lee expressed his determination that even the president should be subject to institutional oversight, and instructed that the relevant procedures be carried out.” During the election campaign, President Lee had pledged to strengthen oversight of misconduct by the president’s family and relatives by appointing a special inspector and expanding their authority.

If a special inspector is appointed, the office will be revived for the first time in approximately nine years. The special inspector is a vice-ministerial level official responsible for monitoring misconduct by the presidential spouse and relatives. Since Lee Seoksoo served as special inspector during the Park Geunhye administration, the position has remained vacant for eight years. The National Assembly recommends three candidates?each of whom must be an attorney with at least 15 years of experience as a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer?and the president appoints one of them. The term of office is three years, and the nominee must also undergo a confirmation hearing in the National Assembly.

Previously, both former presidents Moon Jaein and Yoon Sukyeol attempted to appoint a special inspector, but the office was never activated.