Science and ICT Committee, National Audit Schedule Agreed by Ruling and Opposition Parties... Witness Adoption Still Contentious

Will This Year’s 'Mang-tang Gukgam' Be as Ineffective as Last Year’s?

Jeong Cheong-rae, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The ruling and opposition parties of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, which clashed over the schedule for the national audit, reached an agreement on the 27th. However, concerns are emerging that this year's audit will be a 'bland audit' again, as the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the adoption of witnesses.

The committee held a plenary meeting at 10 a.m. that day to discuss the adoption of the national audit plan and the additional requests for the attendance of witnesses and reference persons. According to the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, the national audit will be held from the 4th to the 24th of next month. The targets include 83 institutions such as the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. The two-day audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT, which the Democratic Party of Korea pushed for the first time in 12 years, will not be conducted. The audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT will be held at 10 a.m. on the 4th in Sejong. Subsequently, audits of the Korea Communications Commission on the 6th and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on the 7th will be held at the National Assembly. The audit of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation will be conducted privately on the 14th.

Although the schedule was agreed upon, no agreement was reached on the adoption of general witnesses and reference persons. Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's secretary, said, "I discussed with Park Seong-jung, the secretary of the People Power Party, at 8 a.m. today," adding, "During the practical consultation process, we have not yet been able to identify witnesses that can be agreed upon, so no witnesses will be called for the Ministry of Science and ICT audit on October 4."

Park Seong-jung, the People Power Party's secretary, said, "Both parties requested a considerable number of general witnesses, but the number agreed upon is not large, so we plan to review and discuss again," adding, "We will try to reach an agreement as soon as possible." In response, Committee Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae said, "I hope at least the agreed witnesses can be approved," and added, "If an agreement is reached, it will be immediately resolved."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Secretary Cho Seung-rae criticized the Ministry of Economy and Finance for refusing to submit materials. Cho said, "We requested the submission of the public institution innovation plan, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance is obstructing the submission of materials," pointing out, "I understand that the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued guidelines to public institutions stating that 'submission of innovation plan materials is difficult.'" He added, "This is an act of obstructing the national audit," and emphasized, "Appropriate measures are necessary."