Korean Bar Association recommends lawyer Choi Yong-hoon for special prosecutor

The Korean Bar Association has nominated lawyer Choi Yong-hoon as its candidate for the special prosecutor, a position vacant for the past decade. This nomination is a crucial step towards filling the role, which is tasked with investigating alleged misconduct by the president's spouse, relatives within the fourth degree of kinship, and senior presidential office officials. The nomination process is designed to ensure impartiality and broad consensus.

Choi Yong-hoon, a 54-year-old lawyer, brings extensive experience to the table, having passed the bar exam in 1995 and served as a prosecutor in various capacities, including at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. He also held the position of Human Rights Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office before transitioning to private practice in 2022.

The Special Prosecutor Act stipulates that the National Assembly nominates three candidates with at least 15 years of experience as judges, prosecutors, or lawyers. The president then selects one of these nominees within three days of receiving the recommendations, subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings. Previously, the Democratic Party nominated prosecutor-turned-lawyer Choi Gil-soo, and the People Power Party nominated prosecutor-turned-lawyer Kang Ji-sik. The decision to have the Korean Bar Association recommend the final candidate was made to ensure a balanced selection process. The Democratic Party aims to complete the appointment process, including confirmation hearings, before the National Assembly's regular session in September.