Lee Jae-myung, Who Said 'Refuse National Audit,' Apologizes Saying "Please Forgive Me If I Went Too Far" After Controversy

"Not Saying We Won't Attend the Audit..." Explanation
Opposition Criticizes "Ignoring the People and the National Assembly"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is reporting on work during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 19th. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, apologized on the 19th, saying "Please forgive me if I went too far" regarding his remarks suggesting that he might refuse the National Assembly's audit of the province. Earlier, Governor Lee sparked controversy by asserting, "Baseless audits of autonomous administrative affairs must stop now."

At the Administrative Safety Committee's audit held that day, there was an outpouring of criticism against Governor Lee's 'refusal of audit' remarks.

Park Wan-soo, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "There has been no local government or national agency as uncooperative in submitting materials as Gyeonggi Province. There is even evidence that the administrative head blocked the submission of materials," adding, "Lack of cooperation with materials is ignoring the National Assembly, ignoring the Administrative Safety Committee, and ignoring the people."

Park continued, "The Administrative Safety Committee should hold a plenary session to file a complaint against Gyeonggi Province under the National Assembly Audit Act and the National Assembly Inspection and Testimony Act, and if there are public officials who blocked the submission of materials, disciplinary action should be requested."

Kim Hyung-dong, also from the People Power Party, said, "Today, on Facebook, the members were inadvertently portrayed as illegal street vendors at Cheonggyecheon," and added, "It looks like denying the system established by the Constitution and laws, so I ask for clarification. If it is difficult to audit, the period should be extended or other measures should be considered, but the governor refusing to be audited is problematic."

Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo said, "I understand that public officials are having a harder time than ever due to COVID-19," and pointed out, "The national audit is legitimate and a necessary duty. The governor's post on Facebook can be a subject of debate."

In response, Governor Lee explained, "It was not a statement about refusing to undergo the audit. I did not declare it illegal."

He added, "I was only trying to say, 'If there is no legal basis or if it is not clearly stated in the Audit Act that it involves national delegated affairs or cases where national budgets are invested, then I don't know about cooperative measures, but it shouldn't be forced,' and I apologize if I went too far."

Member of the National Assembly Administrative Safety Committee Park Wan-su of the People Power Party is speaking at the full meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 15th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier that day, Governor Lee sparked controversy by claiming in a post on his Facebook, "Baseless audits of autonomous administrative affairs must stop now."

He pointed out, "The National Assembly only has the authority to audit 'national affairs,' but it has no authority to audit the autonomous affairs of local governments," adding, "Without authority, they demand audit materials even for the business promotion expenses of heads of subordinate city, county, and district governments. It's like a grandmother-in-law not only interfering with her daughter-in-law's kitchen affairs but also demanding an investigation into the kitchen of the daughter-in-law's grandson."

He continued, "For several days, not only Gyeonggi Province officials but also city and county officials have been unable to sleep while preparing thousands of requested materials," and said, "Starting next year, to protect our officials who are struggling so much, and for a principled and fair world where laws and principles are observed, we seriously need to consider declining audits (requests for materials and Q&A) on autonomous affairs."

Governor Lee also added, "I am curious about how the Constitutional Court will rule on the National Assembly's 'audit' of 'autonomous affairs of autonomous governments' without legal grounds."