President Lee Jae Myung nominates Choi Kil-su as special inspector

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung has nominated a former prosecutor as the special inspector in charge of investigating corruption allegations involving the president's family and key aides, a presidential spokesperson said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced the nomination of Choi Kil-su, a former senior prosecutor, from among three candidates recommended by the rival parties and the bar association.

Kang initially said Lee has appointed Choi as special inspector, but Choi is required to undergo a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly before his appointment. If appointed, Choi will become the first special inspector to serve in the position in a decade.

The independent inspector general position was established in 2014 under then President Park Geun-hye, but it has been left vacant since 2016.

By law, the National Assembly must recommend three candidates with at least 15 years of legal experience, from which the president is required to select one.

Kang described Choi as an expert well-versed in investigating corruption cases involving high-ranking officials, saying he will be in charge of preventing any irregularities involving members of the president's family and key aides in order to uphold public order.