[Summary] Ruling Party Pushes Ahead with Recommendation of Chief Prosecutor Candidate for the Corruption Investigation Office... Opposition Says "Absolutely Unacceptable," "Null and Void"

Decision at the 6th Meeting of the Corruption Investigation Office Chief Recommendation Committee
Opposition Recommendation Members Walk Out During Meeting
People's Party: "Corruption Investigation Office Faces Risk of Becoming a Tool of Power"

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is attending the 6th meeting of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Members of the People Power Party are lined up in the hallway of the meeting room holding placards that read "Anti-Moon Jae-in Dictatorship CIO OUT" and others.
Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the National Assembly's High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Chief (Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, or CIPO) candidate recommendation committee finalized two candidates for the CIPO chief, political conflicts surrounding this decision have intensified. The opposition party declared the selection of the two candidates invalid, arguing that the opposition's recommendation committee was not guaranteed the right to present candidates for review, and announced plans for legal action.

The recommendation committee confirmed the two candidates with five votes in favor, including two recommendation members from the ruling party, during the sixth meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th.

The committee explained, "After two rounds of voting by the members excluding the opposition recommendation members, all members unanimously approved the candidates Kim Jin-wook and Lee Geon-ri, who were recommended by the Korean Bar Association."

According to the revised CIPO Act, even if both opposition recommendation members oppose, the decision can be made with only the remaining five recommendation members.

After the meeting, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae told reporters, "The public had high expectations, but it was delayed for various reasons. I am relieved that the CIPO chief candidate recommendation committee was able to recommend these two excellent candidates, albeit late."

However, on the same day, opposition recommendation members lawyer Lee Heon and Professor Han Seok-hoon of Sungkyunkwan University School of Law protested the forced voting procedure and left the meeting.

Lawyer Lee raised objections, saying, "Although one recommendation member said they would recommend a candidate, other recommendation members forced the voting procedure."

Professor Han, another opposition recommendation member, pointed out, "It is important who is selected as the CIPO chief and how political neutrality is maintained, but there is no institution to provide checks and balances."

Immediately after the meeting, lawyer Lee stated in a press release, "We will file an administrative lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court to confirm the invalidity of the recommendation decision, request a provisional injunction to suspend the execution of the decision, and apply for a constitutional review through the Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyun) public interest lawsuit."

Lawyer Lee claimed, "Candidates Lee Geon-ri and Kim Jin-wook have held or supported high-ranking positions in the current government, which seriously compromises political neutrality." He added, "Their recommendation is the result of the opposition recommendation members' veto rights being stripped under the revised CIPO Act."

He also said, "Tomorrow, I will hold a solo protest in front of the Constitutional Court demanding a swift decision on the constitutionality of the CIPO Act."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press briefing on current issues such as the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency and the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News

The opposition criticized the recommendation of the CIPO chief candidates as an illegal procedure and announced plans for legal action.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly communication office in the afternoon and said, "The recommendation rights of the opposition's recommendation members were infringed during the candidate recommendation process," adding, "We will proceed with a procedure to request a suspension of the execution of the CIPO chief candidate selection."

Floor leader Joo criticized, "The top officials of the Moon Jae-in administration are pushing through by force without any consideration for national confusion."

Spokesperson Bae Jun-young stated in a commentary, "The CIPO chief candidate recommendation committee unilaterally decided without recognizing the candidate recommendation rights of Han Seok-hoon, newly recommended by the People Power Party," and criticized, "The president's words emphasizing the spirit of agreement with the opposition turned out to be mere rhetoric."

Spokesperson Bae added, "The CIPO was created by a law that was fast-tracked once and then double fast-tracked to delete the agreement contents with the opposition. There is no constitutional basis for its establishment," and urged, "The Constitutional Court should respond to the constitutional complaint filed by the People Power Party in February."

He emphasized, "If the president nominates one of the candidates decided by today's fast-tracked vote, the People Power Party will have no choice but to correct the wrong appointment through hearings and all legal means."

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People's Party, said in a commentary, "Despite strong protests from the opposition, the ruling party's bulldozing and steamroller tactics led to the recommendation of the final two CIPO chief candidates," and criticized, "The CIPO, intended for genuine investigation and punishment of public officials' crimes, is at risk of becoming a tool for prosecutorial reform and a servant of the ruling power."

Spokesperson Ahn added, "Contrary to its original purpose, the CIPO has taken shape as a perfect tool to eliminate political opponents, creating a world where everyone must silently bow under the current administration's command," and questioned, "Now, who would dare to expose the current administration's flaws and challenge it?"

Meanwhile, Kim Jin-wook, one of the final candidates for the CIPO chief, is a former judge, and Lee Geon-ri, the vice chairman, is a former chief prosecutor. Both were recommended by the Korean Bar Association.

President Moon Jae-in will nominate one of the two candidates selected by the recommendation committee.

Following this, after the National Assembly's confirmation hearing, deputy chief nomination, personnel committee formation, and appointment of investigative officers, the CIPO is expected to launch around mid-next month at the earliest.

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