Special Audit by Anti-Corruption Commission Extended Twice Ends on 1st of Last Month
Former Chairman Indicates Legal Action, Calling It "Illegal and Targeted Audit for Resignation Pressure"
Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] The approximately seven-week audit of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has concluded. Jeon Hyun-hee, the former chairperson of the ACRC who claimed the audit was a 'targeted audit' pressuring her to resign, has announced plans for legal action against the BAI.
On the 29th, the BAI completed the on-site audit titled "Inspection of Public Officials' Attendance Management and Related Matters" conducted on the ACRC. The BAI began the audit on July 28 after receiving a tip regarding Chairperson Jeon's attendance. The initial on-site audit period was from August 1 to 19 but was extended by two weeks until September 2. The BAI cited delays due to related personnel taking annual and sick leave and conducted an additional extension of the audit from September 14 to 29.
The BAI investigated allegations of poor attendance by Chairperson Jeon, violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act related to lunch expenses with a prominent media editor-in-chief, and coercive rental of hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) at ACRC events. The audit also covered an ACRC staff member from Jeon's team accused of embezzling travel expenses by canceling tickets reserved under the pretense of business trips. The audit report is expected to be publicly released as early as November after collecting opinions from the ACRC and approval by the Audit Committee.
Chairperson Jeon has opposed the audit, claiming it is an illegal and abusive exercise of authority violating the BAI Act. On the 29th, she posted on her Facebook, "The BAI's audit regulations stipulate that all audit subjects should be audited fairly under the same standards. However, the BAI is applying different standards only to the ACRC chairperson, which are not applied to ministers of other departments, conducting an attendance audit." She criticized that the attendance audit regulations should have been discussed first at the Audit Committee. She also pressured the BAI by urging, "I demand a face-to-face investigation of the targeted chairperson, just like with the staff," accusing the BAI of avoiding investigation against her.
In particular, Chairperson Jeon claims this audit is a "targeted audit to pressure resignation" aimed at removing personnel from the previous administration. She has described herself as a "stalwart personnel" representing the Moon Jae-in administration's state philosophy and has resisted calls from the ruling party to voluntarily resign, stating she will serve her term until June next year. The special audit conducted one year after last year's regular audit has been criticized by Jeon and opposition parties as politically motivated. The Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on the 26th of last month against BAI Chairman Choi Jae-hae and Secretary-General Yoo Byung-ho for abuse of authority and intimidation charges.
The Democratic Party's Political Oppression Countermeasures Committee visited the BAI on the 26th to demand explanations. The party stated, "We will hold the BAI accountable for becoming a political oppression tool," and criticized the BAI for conducting high-handed and indiscriminate investigations even on civilians who are not subject to legal audits. The BAI denied any political motives in the audit and stated that it may request attendance and responses from Chairperson Jeon if necessary after the on-site audit concludes. Chairman Choi reportedly conveyed during a meeting with the Democratic Party that "we will respond based on the audit results."
Chairperson Jeon expressed her intention to take legal action against the BAI for abuse of authority. On the 23rd, an ACRC staff member, who was investigated for embezzlement allegations, filed a police complaint against the auditor for defamation through publications. On the 30th, Jeon posted on her Facebook, "It has been a symbolic and challenging time for all ACRC family members to protect the independence and neutrality of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission alongside the people," indicating the beginning of a legal counterattack with the phrase, "This is the prologue to the counterattack."
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