청 "The Launch of the Public Corruption Investigation Office Is Legally Mandated"

Cheongwadae Urges National Assembly to Follow Legal Procedures for Launching the Corruption Investigation Office... "We Ask the National Assembly to Adhere to the Procedures Prescribed by Law"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House stated that the launch timing of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gong-su-cheo) is stipulated by law, and therefore the National Assembly must comply with it.

Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok explained on the 28th during a briefing about President Moon Jae-in sending an official letter to National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok requesting "to recommend a candidate for the Gong-su-cheo chief."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Kang said, "The launch deadline for Gong-su-cheo is not something the president set, but it is already set." The Gong-su-cheo Act, promulgated on January 14, states in its supplementary provisions that it will be enforced starting six months after the promulgation date. According to this, July 15 is the legally designated launch deadline for Gong-su-cheo.

Kang emphasized, "The Blue House did not arbitrarily set the timing related to the Gong-su-cheo launch," and added, "The Blue House's position is that the National Assembly should follow the procedures prescribed by law."

He also explained that the Blue House is not trying to forcibly launch Gong-su-cheo, but that the appointment of the Gong-su-cheo chief can proceed only after the National Assembly completes the recommendation process. Regarding opposition party claims that President Moon's request for recommending the Gong-su-cheo chief is an attempt to seize judicial power, Kang pointed out, "It was the National Assembly that enacted the Gong-su-cheo Act and set its enforcement date."

Kang said, "The right to recommend candidates for the Gong-su-cheo chief also belongs to the National Assembly, and moreover, if the opposition party does not agree, candidates cannot be recommended," adding, "If the National Assembly recommends candidates for the Gong-su-cheo chief in a timely manner, the verification process can be conducted, and an excellent Gong-su-cheo chief can be appointed by the launch date."

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