Special Inspector candidate Choi Gil-su answers questions at his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Friday. [Yonhap]
Special Inspector candidate Choi Gil-su answers questions at his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Friday. [Yonhap]

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing Friday for Special Inspector candidate Choi Gil-su, with the ruling and opposition parties clashing over the scope of the office's investigative mandate.

The Democratic Party of Korea called for the Special Inspector, if confirmed, to probe the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, while the People Power Party fired back, demanding investigations into Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential office's first deputy chief of staff, and President Lee Jae Myung's son.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Dong-a said the Yoon administration had no reason to leave the senior civil affairs secretary post unfilled, yet deliberately did so and instead handled the duties through a lower-ranking secretary. "In that process, there were illegal solicitations and interference in personnel appointments," Kim said. "If those matters come to light as Cheong Wa Dae documents are reviewed, the Special Inspector must have the will to investigate them thoroughly."

Fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won also urged action, saying the law already allows investigations into misconduct by former presidential senior secretaries. "The Yoon administration was an insurrection administration," Park said. "The insurrection special prosecutor is investigating and holding many hearings, but whatever falls short must be covered by the Special Inspector."

The People Power Party, meanwhile, pressed Choi on whether he had the will to investigate allegations that Kim Hyun-ji had interfered in presidential personnel decisions.

People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo asked whether specific allegations of Kim's involvement in personnel matters would make her a subject of investigation, and whether Choi had the will and a plan to probe not only senior secretaries but also those around them suspected of personnel interference.

Ju also displayed at the hearing a screenshot from social media that he described as a photo of a Chinese national involved in cryptocurrency alongside a person identified as a son of President Lee.

PPP lawmaker Kwak Gyu-taek added that even if the deputy chief of staff herself fell outside the Special Inspector's jurisdiction, the chief of staff, the personnel secretary and the civil affairs secretary — if they accepted improper requests and acted on them — were clearly subject to investigation. "The Special Inspector must thoroughly probe the public's doubts," Kwak said.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-gyu pushed back, saying the photo had been released last year by Garosero Research Institute — whose host has since been indicted on charges of spreading false information — under the headline "Shocking exclusive."

The People Power Party also expressed dissatisfaction with how Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Seo Young-gyo and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyum, who leads the party's side on the committee, conducted the proceedings.

During the hearing, Kim, who was serving as acting chair, interjected while PPP lawmaker Kim Min-jeon was questioning Choi, suggesting that references to Kim Hyun-ji's career history may have crossed into private matters. PPP lawmaker Kwak objected, saying the chair should not comment on each question as it is asked.

Friday's hearing was the first confirmation hearing for a Special Inspector candidate in 11 years and six months, since March 2015.


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