A view of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea / Korea Times file
As international conflict in the Middle East and the upcoming June 3 local elections block out most other news, a notable move is taking place regarding the possible appointment of an independent special inspector general for presidential corruption. In Korea's government structure, this inspector general would be tasked with investigating any corruption allegations involving the president's family and aides. They will report their findings to the president, but otherwise operate independently. Earlier this week, President Lee Jae Myung requested that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and main opposition People Power Party (PPP) recommend a candidate. This was part of the president's campaign pledge when he ran last year. The two parties should do so promptly.
The first special inspector general was installed by former President Park Geun-hye in 2014, but the seat has been vacant since 2016. Successive presidents, Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol, considered appointing a special inspector but never moved on it. The lack of a watchful eye stands out especially with the Yoon administration. Combined with Yoon's decision to dissolve the office of the senior secretary for civil affairs and not set up an office overseeing the first lady's affairs, we must inevitably ask in hindsight whether such a position would have tempered the unilateral exercise of authority that led to his December 2024 martial law declaration.
A preemptive safeguard can only do so much, yet the will to go along with the institutional system shows a willingness to play by the democratic book. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said as much when he suggested that the inspector general could work as a preventive guardrail against corruption cases and enhance the public's trust in the government. He added that the position is in accordance with the principle that "all powers must be monitored through institutions."
President Lee has been requesting the nomination of an independent inspector candidate since the start of his administration, but both the DPK and PPP have either sat on it or blamed each other for lack of progress on the matter. The two parties, through the National Assembly, must put forward three candidates with 15 years or more of experience as a judge, prosecutor or lawyer, and the president will choose one. The chosen candidate will undergo a parliamentary hearing under the related laws.
Rep. Han Byung-do,floor leader of the DPK, has said that the party will move swiftly. However, the PPP has come out with yet another disappointing response by saying that the president should accept the opposition's recommended candidate before the two parties agree to move on the issue. But since then, the two parties have agreed to work on expediting the process.
Up ahead is the real task of appointing the most appropriate person to take on the duties of the independent inspector general. Legislators must assess the candidates' expertise as well as any extreme political views, which realistically has been prevalent in Korean politics of late, culminating in deep divisions following Yoon's martial law declaration. Also, the DPK and PPP should adhere to their core mission of representing the public, who are disinclined toward extremist views or one-party dominance in decision-making. The liberal DPK already commands a majority in the National Assembly, and the lead-up to the June 3 local elections has revealed disappointing developments over the PPP's internal frictions and difficulty in fielding candidates for some electorates.
The president should be open to the PPP's recommendations. But more importantly, once appointed, the inspector general should be fully ensured of independence in carrying out probes.This figure should recall how the first inspector general appointed by then President Park was forced out after less than two years over alleged confidentiality and impartiality issues.
Source: Korea Times News
