With "Even if the opposition committee members do not come, there is no problem in recommending the candidate for the Public Corruption Investigation Office chief"

5th Meeting of the Corruption Investigation Office Chief Recommendation Committee on the Afternoon of the 18th
Opposition "Meeting Should Be Held After Filling Vacancies" Protests
Kim Jin-wook and Jeon Hyun-jung, Who Received 5 Votes in the 4th Meeting, Likely to Be Selected

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Following the removal of the 'opposition veto power' from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) Act, the first HCIO Chief Recommendation Committee meeting is expected to narrow down the initial candidates for the HCIO Chief to two.

The HCIO Chief Recommendation Committee will hold its 5th meeting on the afternoon of the 18th at the National Assembly. This is the first meeting since the amendment to the HCIO Act passed by the National Assembly, which changed the quorum for committee approval from at least 6 out of 7 members to 'approval by two-thirds of the total members (5 members).' Opposition-appointed committee member lawyer Lim Jeong-hyeok resigned the day before.

The Democratic Party of Korea stated that despite lawyer Lim's resignation, there is no problem recommending two candidates at this meeting. Park Joo-min, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said in a CBS radio interview on the morning of the 18th, in response to the question, "Is there any problem recommending two HCIO Chief candidates even if not only Lim Jeong-hyeok but also Lee Heon, the other opposition-appointed member, do not attend?" that "No, there is not."

Park explained, "From a legal interpretation standpoint, even if the person submits a resignation letter, the resignation is only effective after approval or dismissal procedures are completed." He added, "With the law amended, if five or more members approve, it is effective, so it can be interpreted that the meeting can proceed even if all seven members are not present. Considering these points, I believe there is no problem with the current candidate recommendation committee operating and recommending candidates."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party argues that the opinion procedure should be postponed until the vacancies in the recommendation committee are filled. On the morning of the same day, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said before the 'People Power Party Cabinet Candidate Hearing Countermeasures Meeting,' "The Speaker of the National Assembly sent us an official letter requesting the re-nomination of the vacant HCIO Chief recommendation committee member."

People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee also held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, insisting, "It is proper to form a committee of seven recommendation members and then convene and decide the meeting." They cited the Constitutional Court's ruling during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, stating, "Although it was said that a trial with one vacancy is not unconstitutional or illegal in a constitutional crisis and a special situation where the Chief Justice appointment process is not proceeding, the principle is that nine constitutional court justices should hear and decide."

Another opposition-appointed recommendation committee member, lawyer Lee Heon, also claimed in a text message sent to reporters that morning, "Just as football requires 11 players and baseball requires 9 players to start a game, convening and deciding a recommendation committee without forming seven recommendation members is illegal and invalid."

In political circles, there is analysis that Kim Jin-wook, a senior researcher at the Constitutional Court, and lawyer Jeon Hyun-jung, who secured five votes in the 4th meeting, are highly likely to be selected as the final candidates. However, among the two candidates, it is expected that researcher Kim is more likely to be nominated. This is because lawyer Jeon Hyun-jung, recommended by Minister Chu, is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Kim Jae-hyung, raising concerns about a 'conflict of interest.'

If two candidates are appointed at the candidate recommendation committee meeting, one person will be nominated by the President and appointed as the HCIO Chief after a National Assembly confirmation hearing, according to the HCIO Act. Once the nomination request is received by the National Assembly, the confirmation hearing must be completed within 20 days. If the HCIO Chief recommendation process is completed smoothly, the HCIO is expected to begin operations in January next year.

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