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Seoul, April 19 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung renewed his calls for the National Assembly to swiftly begin procedures to appoint a special inspector general tasked with investigating corruption involving the presidential family and other officials, a senior aide said on Sunday.

In a press briefing, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said that Lee stressed the need to appoint the independent inspector general to oversee misconduct by the president's spouse and close relatives as part of efforts to tighten discipline among public officials and enhance public trust, reports Yonhap news agency.

Former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol did not appoint anyone to the position.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, have been jailed since August over various corruption charges. Both were indicted on charges of accepting 270 million won (US$183,000) worth of opinion poll results for free from a self-proclaimed power broker in exchange for securing the nomination of former People Power Party Rep Kim Young-sun for a parliamentary by-election in June 2022.

Speaking about this, Kang said, "Lee believes the appointment of an inspector general is necessary in accordance with the principles of democracy and people's sovereignty that 'all powers must be monitored through institutions'."

"We ask that the National Assembly swiftly resume the procedures as the president has expressed his firm commitment," the presidential chief of staff added.

The independent inspector general position was established in 2014 under then-President Park Geun-hye, but it has been left vacant since 2016.

By law, the National Assembly must recommend three candidates with at least 15 years of legal experience, from whom the president is required to select one.

Lee pledged to promptly fill the post throughout his presidential campaign, but progress has stalled in the Assembly.

--IANS

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