President Lee Nominates Choi Gilsu, Recommended by Ruling Party, as Candidate for Special Inspector General... First Appointment in 10 Years If Confirmed

On the 24th, President Lee Jae-myung nominated attorney Choi Gilsu, recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea, as the candidate for Special Inspector General.

Kang Yujeong, Chief Spokesperson for the Blue House, announced at the Chunchugwan press briefing in the afternoon that "President Lee today nominated attorney Choi as the candidate for Special Inspector General, who is tasked with overseeing misconduct involving the President’s relatives and senior aides."

The Blue House announced on the 24th that President Lee Jae-myung had appointed attorney Choi Gilsu as the candidate for Special Inspector General. August 24, 2026, Yonhap News Agency

Chief Spokesperson Kang stated, "Based on his strict adherence to principles and his inspection capabilities, we believe that attorney Choi will carry out his independent duties effectively, block corruption involving the President's relatives and key aides, and reinforce discipline among public officials. Under the principle of popular sovereignty—that all power must be subject to institutional oversight—we expect candidate Choi to enhance the credibility of the public sector."

Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea nominated Choi as their candidate, the People Power Party nominated attorney Kang Jisik, and the Korean Bar Association nominated attorney Choi Yonghun. According to the current Special Inspector General Act, the President must receive recommendations from the National Assembly and designate one candidate within three days. Candidate Choi will be formally appointed after a parliamentary confirmation hearing.

When asked why a candidate recommended by the ruling party was nominated, Chief Spokesperson Kang explained, "(Attorney Choi) had previously been recommended by the opposition, as well," adding, "We determined that he is a neutral figure who is not biased toward any particular party or political camp." She further noted, "During the Park Geun-hye administration, attorney Lee Seoksoo—who had been nominated by the ruling party at the time—also carried out his duties with strict discipline."

If Choi is formally appointed, the Blue House's Special Inspector General system will be reinstated for the first time in ten years. Since the first Special Inspector General, attorney Lee, appointed during the Park Geun-hye administration, resigned in 2016, the position has remained vacant.

Choi was born in 1966 in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and completed his undergraduate studies in public law and a master's program in law at Seoul National University. As a member of the 23rd Judicial Research and Training Institute, he began his legal career and has held positions including Head of the Special Investigation Department at the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office, Head of the Criminal Department at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, Inspector at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and Head of the Major Economic Crimes Unit at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office. He is currently the managing attorney at the law firm Apro.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.