[사설] 10년 만의 특별감찰관 지명, ‘성역 없는 감찰’ 보장돼야

President <이재명> named 최길수 변호사 as the 10th special prosecutor on 24th, marking 10 years since the last appointment. 최 변호사 will be officially appointed after passing through the National Assembly's investigative hearing committee. It has been ten years since the previous special prosecutor, 이석수, withdrew from the position in mid-2016.

The previous two presidents, 문재인 and 윤석열, had promised to appoint special prosecutors during their campaigns but failed to keep their promises. This appointment is significant as it fulfills the campaign promise made by the president during his first 1.5 years in office. The special prosecutor oversees the personal conduct of the president's spouse, family members living within four city blocks, and senior officials of the executive branch.

The first special prosecutor, 이석수, was appointed by President <박근혜> in 2015 but resigned after three years due to allegations of misconduct involving his aide, 우병우, and the Mirae Fund scandal. The consequences of this misconduct led to President <박근혜>'s impeachment. The establishment of the office of the office of the Special Prosecutor is aimed at preventing instances of corruption involving the president's family and close associates.

President <이재명> requested the appointment of a special prosecutor in July last year, stating that it was crucial to prevent the president, his family, and close associates from suffering any misfortune. The appointed 후보자 has previous experience as a special detective at the Gwangju district prosecutor's office, a prosecutorial investigator at the Seoul metropolitan police station, and a senior investigator at the Seoul South District Prosecutors' Office.