Namsuhwan, Human Rights Inspector at the Corruption Investigation Office, "Will Devote Efforts to Creating a Human Rights-Friendly Investigation Agency"

Namsuhwan, Human Rights Inspector at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials./Photo by Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Nam Su-hwan, the Human Rights Inspector of the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (HOCIO), expressed his determination to "devote all efforts to making HOCIO a human rights-friendly investigative agency trusted by the public."

At a meeting with reporters on the 19th, Inspector Nam said, "HOCIO was established to eradicate crimes committed by high-ranking officials and to enhance trust in public office," adding, "Given the high public expectations, I feel a strong sense of mission and responsibility to establish HOCIO as a human rights-friendly investigative agency," sharing his thoughts upon taking office.

Regarding his motivation for applying as the Human Rights Inspector at HOCIO, he stated, "Since being appointed as a public official at the Board of Audit and Inspection, the nation's highest audit institution, in 2000, I have carried out audit practices and audit command duties as a legal professional for the past 22 years," and "In 2019, as the head of the department responsible for audits in the administrative safety sector, I closely followed the legislative process concerning HOCIO."

He continued, "I applied because I believed that the field experience and knowledge I have accumulated at the highest audit institution could contribute to achieving the establishment goals of the newly created HOCIO as its Human Rights Inspector."

Inspector Nam explained, "The duties of the Human Rights Inspector include audits, inspections, human rights protection and improvement within the organization, as well as investigation and handling of complaints and misconduct cases," adding, "Considering that HOCIO is a newly established institution, I will carefully examine whether there are any deficiencies in the systems or procedures for performing duties and whether there are any blind spots, to help establish an efficient operational system."

He also emphasized, "Next, I will strive to ensure that preventive audits and inspections for human rights protection are conducted so that HOCIO can establish its status as a human rights-friendly investigative agency."

Inspector Nam added, "Finally, I will work to prevent misconduct that undermines public trust, establish strict public service discipline, and foster a clean organizational culture."

When asked by reporters if HOCIO Chief Kim Jin-wook had emphasized anything separately, Inspector Nam replied, "As you know, HOCIO was established to eradicate corruption and crimes among high-ranking officials," and "(The Chief) believes that public interest is high and that the role is very important."

He continued, "Therefore, he wanted internal integrity and public service discipline to be more firmly established than in other investigative agencies," and said, "As the Human Rights Inspector, I will devote all my capabilities to ensuring that HOCIO becomes a human rights-friendly investigative agency trusted by the public, which is the purpose of its establishment."

Inspector Nam is from Cheongsong, Gyeongbuk, and graduated from Pohang Yeongil High School and Kyungpook National University’s Department of Law. After passing the 39th Judicial Examination in 1997, he completed the 29th Judicial Research and Training Institute and began his public service career in April 2000 through a level 5 experienced hire at the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Since then, he has served as the head of the 1st Division of the Inspection Information Unit, the 4th Division of the Industrial Finance Audit Bureau, the 2nd Division of the Administrative Safety Audit Bureau, and the 3rd Division of the Fiscal Economy Audit Bureau (Deputy Director) within the Board of Audit and Inspection. He is recognized for his outstanding expertise in auditing and a high level of understanding of investigations as a legal professional.

He was recently appointed on the 18th after undergoing a selection process led by the Ministry of Personnel Management and receiving final approval from President Yoon Seok-youl.

Previously, despite two recruitment attempts, HOCIO had not been able to appoint a qualified Human Rights Inspector, leaving the position vacant for one year and six months since its launch.

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