[2022 National Audit] Education Committee Clashes Over 'Kim Geon-hee Thesis Witness Adoption' Issue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 4th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the issue of witness adoption related to allegations of plagiarism in First Lady Kim Geon-hee's thesis during the Ministry of Education's National Assembly audit by the Education Committee.

Lee Tae-gyu, the ruling party secretary of the Education Committee from the People Power Party, stated through a procedural speech as soon as the Education Committee audit began, "Using the majority power to 'rush' the adoption of audit witnesses is an act of violence," and pointed out, "There are various values and perspectives that must be respected, but if one tries to dominate the assembly arbitrarily, that itself is violence."

Earlier, on the 23rd of last month, the Education Committee adopted witnesses for the national audit to verify allegations of plagiarism in First Lady Kim's thesis by majority vote. This was due to the failure of an agreement between the ruling and opposition party secretaries.

Kim Byung-wook, a member of the same party, also said, "It is shameless that the Democratic Party unilaterally rushed the agenda for witness attendance demands on site," and added, "They should apologize and reflect on this anti-democratic act of parliamentary violence."

The opposition criticized the absence of key witnesses citing overseas travel. Democratic Party member Kang Deuk-gu said, "The witnesses related to First Lady Kim's thesis plagiarism allegations have all fled to Mongolia and the United States," and Kim Young-ho said, "All legal measures, including issuing a summons, must be fully utilized."

In response, People Power Party member Seo Byung-soo rebutted, "Is our National Assembly's image one where matters are processed unilaterally without agreement or consultation?" He added, "I do not know whether they went for official business or not, but we should refrain from using provocative expressions like 'fleeing.'"