[2022 National Audit] "No Manners"... First Day of Audit Marred by Disruptions and Shouting (Comprehensive)

Controversy Over Former President Moon's Audit Causes Judiciary Committee Deadlock... Foreign Affairs Committee Adjourns Over 'Park Jin Attendance'
"No Manners" Shouted Amid Heated Exchanges
Ruling and Opposition Clash Over Witness Adoption for 'Kim Geon-hee Thesis Allegations' in Education Committee
Ministry of Science Faces Lawmakers' Protests Over Attempt at 'Paperless Audit'

On the 4th, at the National Assembly's audit of the Supreme Court and others, People Power Party officials attached placards urging a 'People's Livelihood Audit' to their laptops. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Ji-eun Lee, Joo-seok Naju, Hyun-joo Lee, Joo-yeon Oh, Jun-yi Park] The first National Assembly inspection since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration kicked off on the 4th, but conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties intensified due to the motion to dismiss Foreign Minister Park Jin and the controversy over 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 suspicions surrounding Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Keon-hee, President Yoon’s wife, controversies over the president’s overseas visits, and the North Korea policies of the current and previous administrations.

◆ Judiciary Committee Inspection marred by disruptions and ruling-opposition tensions

The Judiciary Committee inspection on the morning of the 4th started nearly an hour late. This was due to ruling party members objecting to opposition lawmakers’ 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 inspection or whether it constitutes political oppression." Although the Board of Audit and Inspection was not the subject of the Judiciary Committee inspection 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 Judiciary Committee inspection was expected. Hot-button issues included allegations of stock price manipulation involving Kim Keon-hee and Deutsche Motors, special investigations, suspicions over Lee Jae-myung’s donations to Seongnam FC, and development favors related to Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong.

After the placards placed on the desks by lawmakers were removed, the Judiciary Committee inspection finally began, with heated exchanges over the ‘Kim Keon-hee Special Act’ and the ‘Board of Audit and Inspection’s written investigation notification.’ Democratic Party lawmaker Ki Dong-min attacked, saying, "Among the issues pending in the Judiciary Committee, the special investigation law concerning Kim Keon-hee is still pending." Lawmaker Kwon Chil-seung also criticized the Board’s written investigation notification, stating, "Right after the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, the Board of Audit and Inspection publicly declared itself a government-supporting agency."

However, the People Power Party fiercely criticized former President Moon for refusing the written investigation. Lawmaker Jeong Jeom-sik of the People Power Party countered, "The Democratic Party claims political oppression, but the Board of Audit and Inspection also conducted written investigations on former President Roh Tae-woo in 1993." The morning inspection was adjourned and resumed at 2 p.m., with the disputes continuing. Lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye of the People Power Party asked Kim Sang-hwan, head of the Court Administration, "There is a former president who angrily called the written investigation request ‘rude.’ Rather than calling it ‘rude,’ don’t you think he should respond sincerely?" and questioned, "Are you willing to advise former President Moon accordingly?"

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-joo doso7@

◆ Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee confronts over demand for Park Jin’s exit

Another battleground, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee inspection, was also adjourned over the issue of Minister Park’s attendance. The opposition labeled this overseas visit a ‘diplomatic disaster’ and demanded Park’s exit following last week’s passage of a motion to dismiss him, which ultimately led to the inspection’s disruption.

Lee Jae-jung, opposition whip of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said, "The Democratic Party accepted the will of the people and passed the motion to dismiss Minister Park in the National Assembly," adding, "In respect of the authority of the National Assembly, parliamentary principles, and constitutional spirit, we demand Minister Park’s exit from the meeting room." In response, Kim Seok-ki, ruling party whip of the committee, argued, "Minister Park, as our top diplomat, must be given the opportunity to explain the foreign policy and this diplomatic visit to the public."

The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee inspection resumed after 2 p.m., but disputes over the playback of a video involving profanity led to another adjournment about 40 minutes after the meeting restarted.

Before the inspection began, Democratic Party lawmakers held a ‘Condemnation Rally for Political Oppression and Diplomatic Disaster under the Yoon Suk-yeol Regime’ in the National Assembly main building, carrying placards. The opposition plans to call for the resignation of the Board of Audit and Inspection chairman. After the placard protest, floor leader Park Hong-geun told reporters, "It is appropriate to call for 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."

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min attended the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held on the 4th, and was talking with Vice Minister Han Chang-seop before the start of the audit. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

◆ Loud exchanges in the Public Administration and Security Committee over ‘impudence’... Education Committee clashes over Kim Keon-hee’s thesis witness

In the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee, loud exchanges erupted between the ruling and opposition parties over Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-sik’s remark calling the Yoon Suk-yeol government a ‘lying government.’ During the inspection, Lee told Minister Lee Sang-min, "The Yoon Suk-yeol government consistently lies," citing controversies over the presidential office relocation costs and profanity incidents. In response, ruling party whip Lee Man-hee said, "The chairman should strictly caution against statements that categorically label the government as a ‘lying government’ based on unproven or highly controversial facts."

Opposition whip Kim Gyo-heung raised a point of order, saying, "You cannot control a lawmaker’s speech," raising his voice. Lee explained, "There is no intention to control the speech." Kim then said, "If you don’t want to listen, why do you only talk about yourself?" and slammed the desk, adding, "You have no manners right now." Lee shouted back, "Who are you calling impudent?"

In the Education Committee, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the adoption of witnesses related to allegations of plagiarism in Kim Keon-hee’s thesis. Ruling party whip Lee Tae-gyu of the People Power Party criticized the ‘forceful’ adoption of witnesses without bipartisan agreement as violent behavior during a point of order. Opposition lawmakers criticized that key witnesses related to Kim’s thesis plagiarism allegations had fled abroad to Mongolia and the United States, citing their absence due to overseas travel.

In the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee inspection, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the ‘Grain Management Act Amendment Bill,’ which mandates rice market isolation, and the process of selecting the chairman of the agenda adjustment committee. Opposition lawmakers criticized Kim Dae-gi, chief of the Presidential Secretariat, for his remarks at the 5th High-level Party-Government Council, where he said, "In 2011, Thailand pursued a similar policy but suffered from oversupply of rice, fiscal collapse, and economic ruin." The ruling party expressed regret over the opposition and independent lawmakers selecting the agenda adjustment committee chairman alone, saying, "We regret the unilateral decision."

In the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, the Ministry of Science and ICT’s attempt to conduct a ‘paperless inspection’ met with protests from lawmakers. Opposition whip Cho Seung-rae raised concerns, saying, "Work status report materials are not printed and distributed on-site but only saved on laptops used by lawmakers." People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong also pointed out, "Minister Lee Jong-ho’s greeting was printed and distributed, but the important work report was only provided digitally, which is wrong." As a result, the meeting was temporarily adjourned and resumed after printed materials were distributed.

On this day, inspections were held in 12 standing committees: 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, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Environment and Labor Committee, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.