Lawmaker on Finance Committee: "Ministry of Economy and Finance Ordered Not to Submit Data"…Warning of Violation of National Assembly Act

Controversy Over Submission of 'Public Institution Innovation Plan' National Audit Data
Consideration of Legal Action Against Choo Kyung-ho If Not Submitted

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho is departing for Manila, Philippines, on the 28th from Incheon International Airport to attend the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting. At this meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Choo is scheduled to meet with the ADB President and receive the chairmanship of the Annual Meeting as the governor of the next host country.
Yeongjongdo ? Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the 29th, members of the Democratic Party's Planning and Finance Committee pointed out, "It has been confirmed that the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued guidelines instructing all public institutions not to comply with the National Assembly's demand to submit the 'Public Institution Innovation Plan,'" calling it "a clear violation of the National Assembly Act and an illegal act."

The Democratic Party Planning and Finance Committee members released a statement that day, saying, "We strongly condemn the Ministry of Economy and Finance's atrocity that undermines the National Assembly's inherent function to check and oversee the government."

The Democratic Party committee members stated, "By issuing guidelines to refuse the National Assembly's request for submission of materials for the national audit, the Ministry of Economy and Finance's interference in the preparation for the audit, which is one of the rights of individual public institutions, is a clear abuse of authority," adding, "We cannot overlook the Ministry of Economy and Finance's illegal conduct."

They continued, "All members of the Democratic Party Planning and Finance Committee, having obtained the consent of more than one-third of the committee members, proceeded with an official request for materials, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance is refusing to submit the materials," emphasizing, "If the Ministry of Economy and Finance continues to refuse to submit the materials, we will have no choice but to take legal action against Minister Choo Kyung-ho of the Ministry of Economy and Finance in accordance with the National Assembly Act and other laws."

The committee members urged, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance's 'Public Institution Innovation Guidelines for Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency' has a high potential to be distorted into an overt anti-public and privatization policy, so thorough policy review must be conducted," and called on them to "immediately cease illegal activities and promptly respond to the National Assembly's request for materials."