South Korean President Lee is deliberating over whether to submit a personnel hearing request for Kim Ji-yong to lead the country's new corruption investigation office, according to khan.co.kr. The president's hesitation follows pushback from some figures within the ruling bloc, the outlet reported on Tuesday.
The request, if submitted, would set in motion the parliamentary confirmation process for Kim's appointment. khan.co.kr describes the president as weighing the decision carefully amid the internal opposition.
The corruption investigation office is a body established to handle cases involving high-ranking public officials. Its leadership appointment has drawn attention because of the office's role in investigating officials, and the choice of who heads it carries weight across the political spectrum.
According to khan.co.kr, the resistance has come from parts of the ruling camp rather than from the opposition, placing the president in the position of deciding whether to press ahead with the nomination or hold back.
The report does not detail the specific objections raised by those within the ruling bloc, nor does it indicate when a decision might be made.
What to watch next: whether the president moves forward with the hearing request and how the ruling bloc responds if he does.
