Ruling and Opposition Parties' 'Daejangdong Dispute' Causes Cheongwadae Audit to Break Down

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The National Assembly audit targeting the Blue House also descended into chaos as both ruling and opposition parties became embroiled in allegations of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project.

The Blue House audit by the National Assembly Steering Committee on the 26th was suspended less than 30 minutes after it began. Members of the People Power Party continued their protest in the audit hall, holding placards, ribbons, and masks bearing slogans such as "Accept the Special Prosecutor for the Pangyo Daejang-dong Gate."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Before the briefing, Kim Seong-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "It is not appropriate for the National Assembly audit to proceed with specific slogans and ribbons unrelated to the Blue House, for the sake of the people," and requested through negotiations between the ruling and opposition party floor leaders that the attachments and masks with special prosecutor slogans be removed before the audit. Members of the People Power Party immediately opposed this demand. Kim Jeong-jae of the People Power Party countered, "The Daejang-dong case is related to real estate," and added, "These masks have always been worn during previous standing committee sessions. Let's proceed with the audit as it has been done without floor leader negotiations."

Nevertheless, when the Democratic Party again demanded the removal of the attachments, Im I-ja of the People Power Party snapped, "Is it wrong to call for a special prosecutor against the president?" Eventually, Chairman Yoon Ho-jung stepped in and declared that the meeting would be suspended until a conclusion was reached through discussions between the floor leaders of both parties, bringing the matter to a temporary close.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the Blue House audit on the day, which is expected to be the last audit concerning Daejang-dong, the People Power Party is expected to urge the introduction of a special prosecutor related to the Daejang-dong allegations, while the Democratic Party is anticipated to actively defend against the accusations.