Key facts
- Choi Kil-su appointed as special inspector.
- Investigation targets president's spouse, relatives, and senior aides.
- Special inspector post vacant since September 2016.
President Lee Jae Myung appointed Choi Kil-su, a former senior prosecutor, as special inspector on Friday to investigate corruption allegations involving the president's spouse, close relatives, and senior presidential officials. The appointment was approved by Lee, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. The parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee had adopted a confirmation hearing report for Choi with bipartisan support on Thursday. Choi, who was nominated from three candidates recommended by political parties and the bar association, becomes the first presidential watchdog appointed since 2016. The special inspector post was established in 2014 but had remained vacant since its first inspector stepped down in September 2016.