'Moon Investigation' Boosts Board of Audit and Inspection Actions by Yoon... Ruling and Opposition Parties Enter Full-Scale Confrontation

-Yoon "It is not appropriate for the president to mention directly" while "The Board of Audit and Inspection is a constitutional institution, independently operated"
-Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, "Attempted retaliatory audit... Using investigative power to instill fear politics"
-Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, "Flustered... Former presidents cannot have special privileges"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Koo Chae-eun] President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 4th refrained from commenting directly on the Board of Audit and Inspection's (BAI) written investigation of former President Moon Jae-in, saying, "It is not appropriate for the president to mention it directly." However, he firmly drew a line against the opposition's claim of a "political repression frame," while mentioning the 'principle' of an investigation without sanctuary.

President Yoon said this on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul in the morning, meeting with reporters, "The Board of Audit and Inspection is a constitutional institution and operates independently from the presidential office." Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the BAI notified former President Moon's side of its intention to conduct a written investigation regarding the 'West Sea government official shooting incident.' Former President Moon's side verbally refused to accept it, and it is known that his secretariat and aides discussed and returned the email containing the BAI's questionnaire.

Although President Yoon avoided direct comments on the BAI investigation, considering his remarks that the BAI is a constitutional institution and his response to the question about the need for an investigation without sanctuary as "Isn't that a general principle?", it can be interpreted that he effectively supported the BAI's course of action.

The Democratic Party of Korea has reacted strongly. Both the party's new mainstream faction, the pro-Myeong group, and the old mainstream faction, the pro-Moon group, have united in a full-scale confrontation stance. The Democratic Party plans to define the BAI's investigation of former President Moon as 'political retaliation' and launch a 'noncompliance national resistance movement.'

At a party meeting, denunciations against the BAI poured out. Party leader Lee Jae-myung criticized, "They are attempting a retaliatory audit against the former president under the pretext of a North Korea scare campaign, which has already been proven to be a misstep," adding, "It is like a dictatorship regime using investigative power to engage in a reign of terror." Lee warned, "We must not forget that the blade they wield now will eventually turn back on themselves."

On the other hand, the People Power Party insists that an 'investigation without sanctuary' must be conducted and that former President Moon is no exception. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized former President Moon at a National Assembly audit strategy meeting held in the main building, saying, "All citizens of the Republic of Korea are equal before the law. Even a former president cannot have privileges and should comply."

In particular, Floor Leader Joo referred to former President Moon's comment that the investigation was "rude," questioning, "Rather, seeing him get upset and call it rude was surprising. It makes me think there must be many problems with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official shooting incident, so why such an overreaction?" He continued, "Looking at what has been revealed so far during the audit process, there was more than six hours to take action while alive, but no action was taken at all," emphasizing, "It is the people's right to ask how the presidential office responded and to investigate, and it is the duty of the person who held that position to answer."

Following President Yoon's remarks on his way to work, sharp reactions from both ruling and opposition parties are expected to continue, making the atmosphere of the first day of this government's National Assembly audit a fierce battle of nerves. On this day, 12 standing committees are scheduled, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Political Affairs Committee, Planning and Finance Committee, Education Committee, Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, National Defense Committee, Public Administration and Security Committee, Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Environment and Labor Committee, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.