Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Yoon in search of 'better ways' to counter corruption in presidential office
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Monday. The presidential office said Tuesday that it is seeking to set up a better system to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to the president. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
'It is up to National Assembly to maintain special inspector system'
By Jung Min-ho
President Yoon Suk-yeol is searching for more effective ways to prevent and counter corruption involving people close to him, but it is up to the National Assembly whether to maintain the current special inspector system, an official said Tuesday.
The post of special inspector was established in 2014 to keep the presidential office clean from corruption. Its role is to look into alleged irregularities by the president's family members, including the spouse and close relatives and presidential officials who are either equal to or above a senior presidential secretary in rank.
“The presidential office is trying to create a better system to root out corruption, but it doesn't mean that the current system will be abolished, which (as it is the law) requires the approval of the National Assembly,” an official at the presidential office told reporters.
The comment comes after reports that the office decided not to appoint a special inspector tasked with investigating corruption among the president's family and top-level aides, which would be a breach of his key pledges.
Following the reports, Chang Je-won, the ruling People Power Party lawmaker who served as Yoon's chief of staff during the transition period, said the president would not make such decisions without the Assembly's agreement.
The issue drew much attention in part because of what was achieved by the previous special inspector, Lee Suk-soo. Lee, who took the post during the Park Geun-hye administration, dug into allegations surrounding her key aides, and his revelations dealt a serious blow to her government. Park was eventually impeached less than a year after Lee's resignation.
Apparently aware of the risk and "due to the policy priority" of creating a new anti-corruption investigative body, former President Moon Jae-in kept the position empty throughout his term despite criticism from the opposition. Investigator Cha Jung-hyun served as an acting special inspector between September 2016 and April 2018, without producing any results.
Yoon's office recently questioned the effectiveness of the special inspector system as it lacks investigative powers and needs the prosecution's support once any suspicions of wrongdoing are detected.
Given that the Yoon administration abolished the position of presidential secretary for civil affairs, which exerted great influence over prosecutors and police, there is now less concern about possible influence-peddling by the president, the official said.
However, opposition parties worry that the change means more power for Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, who is seeking to fill the void left by the presidential office. Some have already begun referring to Han, who had a good relationship with Yoon at the prosecution, as “the number two man.”
“The situation is different now from the time the special inspector system was created,” the official said. “I think no one would doubt the president's determination to battle corruption … We'd like to reform the system in cooperation with the Assembly.”
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling party, said he would work with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to search for candidates for the next special inspector after the June 1 local elections.
Under the law, the president should appoint one special inspector out of three candidates proposed by the Assembly.