[2022 National Audit] Clash over 'Lee Jae-myung False Fact Announcement'... Ruling Party "Lee Mukti Prevention Law" vs Opposition "First Trial Not Over"

National Assembly Public Administration Committee, Central Election Commission Audit
Following the Previous Day, Ruling and Opposition Party Whips Raise Voices
Mutually Demand Apologies While Criticizing Each Other

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the opening ceremony of the Party Member Zone held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th. After the event, he gave a greeting speech at the open supreme council meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the second day of the National Assembly audit on the 5th, during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the National Election Commission, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate over the trial related to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and his alleged "false statement" during his presidential candidacy. Lee is currently indicted on charges of false statement and is awaiting his first trial.

On this day, Jo Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party, cited the revision bills she proposed for the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act, saying, "Some call it the 'Lee Jae-myung Eat-and-Run Prevention Act,'" starting her remarks.

The bill stipulates that when there is an obligation to return election expenses due to a nullification of election results, if a political party does not return the election expense reimbursement, the party subsidy will be reclaimed or the subsidy amount will be reduced accordingly when given to the party.

Jo questioned Park Chan-geun, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, saying, "When (Lee’s) false statement charge is found guilty, the media asks how the National Election Commission can receive 43.4 billion won," adding, "According to the bill I proposed, the National Election Commission can deduct that amount when giving party subsidies to the Democratic Party."

On the morning of the 5th, a comprehensive national audit for 2022 was held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, by the Administrative Safety Committee, covering seven public institutions including the National Election Commission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Fire Agency and Korea Fire Industry Technology Institute, and the Korea Elevator Safety Corporation. 2022.10.5 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

If Lee is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more, which results in nullification of election results, he must return the 300 million won election deposit to the National Election Commission. The Democratic Party must also return the entire election expense amounting to approximately 43.4 billion won to the Commission.

When Jo mentioned Lee’s trial, Kim Gyo-heung, the opposition party’s secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, raised his voice, saying, "It is undesirable for the People Power Party to turn this into a political conflict against the National Election Commission," and added, "You should not talk about election expense returns on a matter where the first trial has not even concluded."

In response, Lee Man-hee, the ruling party’s secretary and a member of the People Power Party, said, "(Lee’s case) is a matter disclosed through media reports and the prosecution’s indictment," and demanded an apology, claiming it was an attempt "to control statements made during the audit." Kim immediately retorted, "Why should I apologize?" and did not back down.

Jo challenged Kim, who tried to restrain her remarks, by saying, "Didn’t Kim Ho-seon (Democratic Party) just talk about Jang Sung-min, the Presidential Office planning officer (for unpaid presidential election fines)?" Kim countered, "That decision has been made, but this case’s first trial has not even ended."

Jo slammed the table, demanding an apology from Kim, saying, "Why do you always react like this whenever I say something?" She also strongly protested to Chairman Lee Chae-ik, who was trying to calm the situation, saying, "You should not proceed like this."

Earlier, the Public Administration and Security Committee had a confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the National Election Commission Chairman’s response to the so-called ‘Sokuri Voting’ scandal during the early voting of the presidential election in March, where ballots for COVID-19 quarantined or confirmed patients were poorly managed. The National Election Commission had refused the Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit related to the so-called ‘Sokuri Presidential Election.’ When Jang Je-won of the People Power Party demanded a direct response from the Commission Chairman, opposition lawmakers opposed, saying it violated the spirit of the Constitution.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jo Eung-cheon, a Democratic Party member, pointed out, "It is inappropriate for the National Election Commission Chairman to give specific answers as it disregards the spirit of the Constitution and established parliamentary practices," and said, "The Secretary General should respond."

The day before, during the committee session, when Lee (Democratic Party) urged Chairman Lee to caution Lee Hae-sik, a Democratic Party member who said, "The Yoon Seok-youl government consistently lies," Kim opposed, calling it "speech control," leading to a heated exchange. Kim later apologized after saying, "You have no manners right now."