**”If the Blue House Is Sincere, It Should Accept Oppositional Recommendations”**
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Jeon Sang-woo: Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed on the 19th regarding President Lee Jae-myung’s repeated request to the National Assembly to initiate the process of appointing a special inspector, “It is nothing but a recycled distraction strategy show ahead of local elections.”
On the same day, Song made a Facebook post stating, “President Lee once again urged the National Assembly to recommend a special inspector,” adding, “This is neither a new statement nor is it a new scene.”
He continued, “The People Power Party has proposed numerous times to recommend a special inspector to the ruling party, but the Democratic Party has remained inactive,” criticizing, “The Blue House is shifting the responsibility of recommending the special inspector to the National Assembly while the Democratic Party refuses to recommend one, continuing this ‘distraction strategy show’ for nearly a year.”
Song also stated, “Although it is a belated regret that more than a year has elapsed, we respect and welcome the Blue House’s intent to push for the recommendation of a special inspector,” and proposed that “the ruling and opposition parties should immediately come together to start the recommendation process.”
He further remarked, “If the Blue House is genuine, it should accept the personnel recommended by the opposition rather than the biased ones recommended by the Democratic Party,” and asserted, “Only then will it transform into a ‘genuinely fair special inspector’ rather than just pretending to be fair.”
The special inspector, established in 2014, regularly inspects the misconduct of the President’s spouse, relatives within a fourth cousin relationship, and certain high-ranking officials appointed by the President. The National Assembly recommends three candidates, and the President appoints one after a confirmation hearing.
The position of special inspector has been vacant for nine years since the resignation of the first special inspector, Lee Seok-soo, in 2016.
Previously, although President Lee instructed the appointment of a special inspector post-inauguration, there has been no progress. In a press conference marking the 30th day since his inauguration last July, President Lee confirmed his commitment to the campaign pledge of appointing a special inspector.