Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Kim Ho-cheol, a seasoned human rights lawyer, to serve as the new chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), according to an announcement from the presidential office on Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Ho-cheol, an attorney affiliated with the law firm KlassHankyul, has an extensive background in public service and advocacy. He has served as chairman of the Korean National Police Commission and has been a co-representative of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, a prominent environmental civic organization. Additionally, Kim held the position of president at Lawyers for a Democratic Society and was a member of the committee tasked with investigating suspicious deaths of soldiers.

In a briefing, Lee Kyu-yeon, the presidential secretary for public relations and communication, stated, "Kim is a leading human rights lawyer who has played a central role in safeguarding the public interest and social values." Lee further emphasized Kim's suitability for the role, highlighting his potential to normalize the BAI chief's role while restoring its constitutional values of political neutrality, independence, and public trust.

Kim Ho-cheol's nomination requires parliamentary approval, and he is slated to undergo a confirmation hearing, although the date for this has yet to be determined. This nomination follows the retirement of former BAI chief Choe Jae-hae, who completed his four-year term last month. Choe had faced an impeachment motion in December, but the Constitutional Court dismissed the case, allowing him to remain in office until his term concluded.

The BAI has been embroiled in political controversy in recent years, with allegations that it had been used for politically motivated audits by prior administrations. Recently, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials conducted a raid on the BAI concerning a contentious audit carried out during the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.