CIO Chief to Be Announced Before Year-End?... President Moon's Final Decision Imminent

Final CIO Chief Candidate to Be Decided as Early as the 30th
Opposition Plans Legal Action;
Parliamentary Confirmation Hearing Remains a Key Variable

[Asia Economy, Reporter Ryu Jungmin, Reporter Kang Nahum] President Moon Jae-in is expected to select the final candidate to lead the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) as early as December 30. This means the launch of the CIO, which has been one of the biggest political issues of the year, is now approaching its final stage.

The ruling party is hoping for the CIO to be launched early in the new year. President Moon’s final decision is likely to come on either December 30 or 31, before the end of the year. Although the decision by the National Assembly’s CIO Chief Nomination Committee was delivered to the Blue House on December 28, further deliberation is required before the final selection is made.

The National Assembly has selected Kim Jinwook (54, 21st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), a senior researcher at the Constitutional Court and former judge, and Lee Geonlee (57, 16th class), Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and former prosecutor, as the final candidates. Both were recommended by Lee Chanhee, President of the Korean Bar Association, who serves as an ex officio member of the nomination committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Once President Moon nominates one of the two, the nominee will go through a parliamentary confirmation hearing before being officially appointed. The President’s final selection of the CIO chief is also related to the acceptance of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s resignation and the appointment schedule for her successor. It is possible that the selection of the CIO chief, the acceptance of Minister Choo’s resignation, and the nomination of a new Justice Minister could all take place before the end of the year.

Even after President Moon selects the final candidate for CIO chief, the process is not expected to proceed smoothly. The opposition has already announced its intention to take legal action, including filing an administrative lawsuit to invalidate the nomination committee’s decision and requesting a constitutional review. It is also uncertain whether the People Power Party will cooperate with the confirmation hearing.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized on December 29, saying, “Our nominee, Han Seokhoon, was newly recommended, but the right to exercise the nomination was deprived, and the right to vet the candidates was also denied, while the ruling party selected two candidates.”

Some analysts believe the opposition may use legal procedures as a pretext to delay the process. According to the Confirmation Hearing Act, the National Assembly must complete its review or hearing within 20 days of the submission of the confirmation request. The relevant standing committee must finish the hearing within 15 days of receiving the request. If issues regarding the candidate’s ethics or qualifications are discovered during the hearing, the possibility of the nominee being rejected cannot be ruled out.

In addition, the appointment of prosecutors to be dispatched to the CIO is another variable. The personnel committee, which will deliberate and decide on the appointment of CIO prosecutors, consists of seven members, including two recommended by the People Power Party. If the opposition delays the appointment of these committee members, the activities of the CIO could also be postponed.

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