The ruling People Power Party's chief Han Dong-hoon ramped up his call for an independent inspector general's probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee in a party meeting Wednesday, saying the probe is a crucial step for the ruling bloc to restore the public trust. Han's proposal, however, immediately prompted opposition from within the ruling conservative party. "We have promised the people that we will start working to recommend candidates for a special inspector general," Han said.
"I told President Yoon Suk Yeol (in a Monday meeting) that a (legislative) procedure to recommend candidates for the special inspector general will start soon." Under South Korea's Independent Inspector General Act, the National Assembly shall recommend three candidates for an inspector -- who would be under the jurisdiction of the President but is eligible to inspect the President's spouse and relatives as well as public officials who are senior presidential secretaries or higher -- through bipartisan support. The ruling party and the main opposition party are typically involved in the recommendation process.
Han claimed time is running out to tackle problems related to Yoon's wife, saying any significant step must be taken before a district court ruling scheduled in November on opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung's criminal allegations over his alleged election law violation and attempt to abet false testimony. "The opposition leader's verdict for his alleged crimes will be handed down on Nov.
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