Board of Audit and Inspection Level 1 Executive Personnel... Kim Kyung-ho, 'Solar Power Audit' Chief of Staff, Appointed as 1st Deputy Director

On the 25th, Chief Auditor Choi Jae-ha appointed Kim Kyung-ho, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office (left), as the First Deputy Auditor, and Hyun Wan-gyo, Director of the Social Welfare Audit Bureau, as the Second Deputy Auditor. /

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Kim Kyungho, Director of Planning and Coordination who was in charge of the audit on 'Solar Power Generation Project Corruption Inspection,' has been appointed as the 1st Deputy Auditor General. Hyun Wankyo, Director of the Social Welfare Audit Bureau who led the 'Regional Local Corruption Mobile Inspection,' has been appointed as the 2nd Deputy Auditor General.

On the 25th, Auditor General Choi Jaehae conducted promotions and appointments for five senior audit official positions (Grade 1) reflecting these changes.

The newly appointed 1st Deputy Auditor General Kim Kyungho is from Seosan, Chungnam. He graduated from Paejae High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Agricultural Economics and passed the 37th Administrative Examination. He began his public service career at the Board of Audit and Inspection in 1996 and has held various positions including Head of Public Audit Operations, Head of Strategic Audit, Director of Special Investigation Bureau, and Director of Fiscal and Economic Audit Bureau. Notably, through the audit on the 'Solar Power Generation Project Corruption Inspection,' he uncovered the structural realities of the solar power generation policy and projects riddled with corruption, including preferential treatment linked to solar power plants and bribery. Additionally, through the audit on the 'Mid- to Long-term Fiscal Management System Operation,' he provided in-depth analysis and proposed system improvements to enhance the soundness and sustainability of national finances amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The newly appointed 2nd Deputy Auditor General Hyun Wankyo is from Boryeong, Chungnam. He graduated from Daejeon High School and Yonsei University with a degree in Economics and passed the 38th Administrative Examination. Since 1996, he has worked at the Board of Audit and Inspection, serving as Auditor of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of Facility Safety Monitoring, and Head of Strategic Audit. As the 2nd Deputy Auditor General, he led the 'Regional Local Corruption Mobile Inspection' audit, extensively rooting out comprehensive and chronic local corruption such as bid rigging, permits, recruitment, and embezzlement by local government officials, thereby raising the Board’s determination to eradicate local corruption. Additionally, through the audit on 'Startup and Venture Business Development Status,' he ensured the proper functioning of the discovery system for excellent venture companies and improved the national treasury support system, proposing alternatives to overcome the crisis of stagnation in industrial technology growth.

Furthermore, Auditor General Choi appointed Kim Youngshin, Director of the Administrative Safety Audit Bureau, as Head of the Public Service Inspection Headquarters; Choi Dallyoung, Director of the Special Investigation Bureau, as Director of Planning and Coordination; and Lee Sangwook, Director of the Fiscal and Economic Audit Bureau, as Head of the Audit Training Institute, all promoted and appointed. Director Kim previously led the 'National Intelligence Service and Supreme Court Regular Audits' and the 'Police Agency Regular Audit.' Director Choi investigated the sale of Korea Exchange Bank, examining the background of its sale to Lone Star, which was unqualified to acquire it. Director Lee uncovered the financial waste led by local government heads through audits on delayed input projects and debt guarantees, including exhibition-style, populist, and campaign promise projects.

Meanwhile, following the launch of the Yoon Seokyeol administration, previous officials such as Kim Myungwoon, 1st Deputy Auditor General; Jung Sangwoo, Head of the Public Service Inspection Headquarters; and Lee Junjae, Head of the Audit Training Institute, have retired honorably. The position of 2nd Deputy Auditor General was vacant. There is also analysis that the existing Grade 1 employees have been retiring in succession after Yoo Byungho, Secretary General who handled the audit of the 2020 Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 economic feasibility manipulation case, was promoted skipping Grade 1.