Blue House National Assembly Audit 'Witness No-Show' Controversy... Postponed to November 4 (Comprehensive)

People Power Party Demands Attendance of Seo Hoon, National Security Office Chief, at Operations Committee Hearing... Joo Ho-young Says "What Meaning Does the Hearing Have Without the Security Chief?"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min, Won Dara, and Lim Chun-han] The National Assembly's Steering Committee decided on the 29th to postpone the audit schedule after facing difficulties over the Blue House's refusal to send witnesses to the state audit. The new audit date for the Blue House is scheduled for November 4, and it was agreed that Seo Hoon, the Director of the National Security Office, will also attend on that day.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said to reporters on the day, "There is no point in conducting the Blue House audit without the participation of the National Security Office personnel," adding, "Since the self-quarantine of Seo Hoon, the National Security Office chief, and the delegation visiting the U.S. ends tomorrow, the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold the audit with the participation of the National Security Office chief next Wednesday (November 4)."

Joo added, "The Blue House's main task is security policy, so what meaning does the audit have if the National Security Office chief is absent?" He continued, "The president's constitutional duty is national defense, and the most important thing is security. If the National Security Office personnel are absent, the Blue House audit has no meaning."

No Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President, and Kim Sang-jo, Chief Policy Officer, are attending the National Assembly's Steering Committee meeting on the 29th, participating in the audit of the Presidential Secretariat, National Security Office, and Presidential Security Service, exchanging opinions. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

There were expectations that the Steering Committee audit on that day would become a 'second Yoon Seok-yeol Prosecutor General audit,' but an unexpected 'bomb' exploded elsewhere, signaling a breakdown. When seven Blue House audit witnesses, including Seo Hoon, Chief of Civil Affairs Kim Jong-ho, and Presidential Security Service Chief Yoo Yeon-sang, expressed their intention not to attend, the opposition party strongly protested.

In fact, ahead of the scheduled Steering Committee audit time at 10 a.m. on the 29th, Democratic Party lawmakers and Blue House officials, including Chief of Staff to the President Noh Young-min, appeared at the Steering Committee meeting room, but People Power Party lawmakers did not show up. At that time, the opposition floor leadership, including Floor Leader Joo, conveyed their protest against the Blue House witnesses' absence to the ruling party side.

There was speculation that the People Power Party might boycott the Blue House audit entirely or that Floor Leader Joo would appear at the meeting room, deliver a protest, and then leave. However, the ruling and opposition parties eventually reached a compromise to postpone the schedule. Earlier, Floor Leader Joo told reporters, "Is it reasonable to notify of non-attendance last night?" and added, "The Democratic Party floor leadership should maintain the basic dignity of the National Assembly."

With the Blue House audit schedule postponed, the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over key issues such as Prosecutor General Yoon's position controversy and the so-called 'Moon Jae-in President messenger' controversy was also delayed. The reason for the keen interest in the Steering Committee audit that day was the expectation that it would become a new battleground in the 'legal internal conflict.' Prosecutor General Yoon had revealed during the Judiciary Committee's audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that shortly after the 21st general election in April, President Moon had conveyed his confidence through a messenger.

The Blue House remained tight-lipped about this but sensed an uncomfortable atmosphere internally. It was seen as an inappropriate remark that dragged President Moon into political disputes. Considering President Moon's style, it was also speculated that he would not have conveyed confidence to the Prosecutor General through unofficial channels. The Blue House cautiously investigated who the messenger mentioned by Prosecutor General Yoon might be but reportedly concluded that it was difficult to identify anyone specifically.

Regarding this, Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, criticized in an interview with KBS News on the 28th, "(Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks) caused confusion by omitting who and when," calling it "inappropriate." This has been interpreted as a warning message from the Blue House about the political controversy caused by Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks.

Meanwhile, Senior Secretary Choi claimed regarding real estate issues, "The Park Geun-hye administration implemented stimulus measures that pushed people to 'take out loans to buy houses,' which caused housing prices to rise," adding, "The current government is bearing the consequences." This statement drew criticism for blaming the previous administration for the real estate instability during the Moon Jae-in government.