Controversy Over Daejang-dong Investment Losses by Military Mutual Aid Association... National Assembly Audit Disrupted

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit session was disrupted early on due to political clashes surrounding Daejang-dong. The conflict arose over the losses incurred by the Military Mutual Aid Association's investment in Daejang-dong.

According to the National Assembly on the 15th, the Military Mutual Aid Association invested 379.1 billion won in 2005 in the site of Seongnam 1st Industrial Complex, which was planned for a mixed-use residential and commercial building. However, in 2010, when Lee Jae-myung, then mayor of Seongnam, canceled the designation of the development zone, the association suffered losses totaling 400 billion won including opportunity costs.

In response, People Power Party lawmakers placed placards in front of their seats before the session, reading "Who took away the hard-earned military salaries?" The Democratic Party lawmakers countered that if the picketing did not stop, the audit could not proceed normally, resulting in the meeting starting nearly an hour late at 10:50 a.m.

With the People Power Party lawmakers conceding to remove the placards, the audit session finally began but was again disrupted during sharp procedural remarks exchanged between ruling and opposition members.

First, Democratic Party whip Ki Dong-min demanded an "explicit apology and a promise to prevent recurrence" regarding the picketing. Fellow party member Kim Byung-gi also expressed "strong regret."

In response, People Power Party whip Sung Il-jong countered, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung boasted that the Daejang-dong development project was the greatest public interest recovery project since Dangun, but the Military Mutual Aid Association related to the National Defense Committee is one of the biggest victims."

Then, People Power Party lawmaker Han Ki-ho took out a placard again, hung it around his neck, and protested, "Will you try to expel me like this? Isn't there no legal problem?" The audit venue instantly turned chaotic.

Democratic Party lawmakers simultaneously shouted "Stop your tricks," leading to loud arguments and finger-pointing between the parties, and National Defense Committee Chairman Min Hong-chul declared a recess again after just 10 minutes.

Previously, on the 5th, when the National Defense Committee was scheduled to audit the Ministry of National Defense, the session was also unable to proceed due to a standoff between the parties over People Power Party's picketing condemning the Military Mutual Aid Association's losses from the Daejang-dong investment.