Old and New Powers 'Clash' at the National Assembly Audit... Judiciary Committee Delayed and Foreign Affairs Committee Disrupted

Lee Jae-myung and Kim Gun-hee Allegations Spark Expected Fierce Battle in Legislation and Judiciary Committee... Ultimately Delayed
Foreign Affairs Committee Adjourns Over Minister Park Jin's Attendance Issue
Opposition Demands Resignation of Audit Chief Amid Controversy Over Former President Moon's Audit

Foreign Minister Park Jin attended the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th, sitting and waiting for the audit to begin. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lee Hyun-joo] The first National Assembly audit since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration began on the 4th, but clashes between the ruling and opposition parties intensified over the motion to dismiss Foreign Minister Park Jin and the controversy surrounding the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of former President Moon Jae-in, causing delays and disruptions in various places. In the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and National Defense Committee, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to fiercely confront each other over allegations surrounding Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, controversies over President Yoon’s overseas trips, and the North Korea policies of the current and previous administrations.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s audit on the morning of the 4th started nearly an hour late. This was due to ruling party members objecting to opposition lawmakers holding placards demanding an end to “political oppression.” Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said, "Democratic Party lawmakers are holding placard protests, but I don’t understand how this relates to the Supreme Court audit or whether it constitutes political oppression." Although the Board of Audit and Inspection was not the subject of the committee’s audit that day, opposition lawmakers held placard protests against the audit of former President Moon by the Board. The clash between the ruling and opposition parties during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit was expected. Hot-button issues include allegations of stock price manipulation involving Kim Keon-hee and Deutsche Motors, special investigations, Lee Jae-myung’s suspected donations to Seongnam FC, and development favoritism in Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong.

The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit, another battleground, was also suspended due to the attendance issue of Minister Park. The opposition labeled this overseas trip a “diplomatic disaster” and demanded Minister Park’s removal following the passage of the dismissal motion last week, which ultimately led to the disruption of the audit itself. The National Defense Committee audit proceeded without incident, but heated debates between the ruling and opposition parties over the Moon administration’s North Korea policy and the West Sea public official killing incident suggest a high possibility of disruption.

Before the audit began, Democratic Party lawmakers held a “Rally to Condemn Political Oppression and Diplomatic Disaster by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration” in the National Assembly main building, holding placard protests. The opposition plans to call for the resignation of the Board of Audit and Inspection chief. After the placard protest, Floor Leader Park Hong-geun told reporters, “It is appropriate to call for (his resignation),” adding, “It is no exaggeration to say that the Board of Audit and Inspection has abandoned its responsibility and status as an independent constitutional institution.”

On this day, the National Assembly audits were held in 12 standing committees: 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, 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.