Why has South Korea’s special inspector position been vacant since 2016?

The position remained vacant because rival political parties disagreed over recommendations for candidates. The office was established in 2014 to investigate alleged irregularities involving the president’s spouse, close relatives and senior presidential officials.

What happens after the confirmation report for Choi Kil-su is adopted?

Adoption of the report by the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee would clear the way toward ending the decade-long vacancy. The special inspector would serve a three-year term, and the report will include both favorable and unfavorable assessments of Choi’s suitability.

Confirmation report for special inspector nominee to be adopted after 10-year vacancy

Q: Who is Choi Kil-su and what position has President Lee Jae Myung nominated him for?

Choi Kil-su is a former senior prosecutor nominated by President Lee Jae Myung to become the special inspector responsible for investigating corruption allegations involving the president’s family and senior aides. He was selected from three candidates recommended by rival parties and the bar association.

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Summary

A parliamentary committee is set to adopt a confirmation hearing report for special inspector nominee Choi Kil-su in Seoul on Thursday, paving the way to end a 10-year vacancy. Choi, a former senior prosecutor, was nominated by President Lee Jae Myung from three candidates recommended by rival parties and the bar association. The post investigates corruption allegations involving the president’s family and senior aides. The special inspector serves a three-year term.

Key Facts

The special inspector post was established in 2014 to investigate alleged irregularities involving the president’s spouse, close relatives and senior presidential officials.
Choi Kil-su’s confirmation hearing was held about a month before the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee’s scheduled adoption of the report.
Ruling and opposition parties agreed to include both favorable and unfavorable assessments of Choi’s suitability in the report.
The position has remained vacant since 2016 because rival parties disagreed over candidate recommendations.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 21, 2026 9:18 am KST

Choi Kil-su, the nominee for the special inspector in charge of investigating corruption allegations involving the president's family and key aides, takes an oath during his parliamentary confirmation hearing at National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 18. Yonhap

A parliamentary committee is set to adopt a confirmation hearing report this week for a special inspector nominee tasked with investigating corruption allegations involving the president's family and senior aides, officials said Wednesday, paving the way for an end to a 10-year vacancy.

The report for Choi Kil-su is scheduled to be adopted by the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee on Thursday, about a month after his confirmation hearing was held.

Choi, a former senior prosecutor, was nominated by President Lee Jae Myung from among three candidates recommended by rival parties and the bar association in August.

The special inspector post was established in 2014 to investigate alleged irregularities involving the president's spouse and close relatives, and senior presidential officials, but has remained vacant since 2016 amid disagreements between the rival parties on the recommendations of candidates.

The planned adoption of the report comes after the ruling and opposition parties agreed earlier this week to include both favorable and unfavorable assessments of Choi's suitability in the report.

The special inspector serves a three-year term.

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