[In Photos: Politics] National Assembly Audit Crying 'Political Strife Over People's Livelihood'... All Too Familiar Scenes of the Audit

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Dong-joo] "This National Assembly audit is expected to become a political battle rather than focusing on people’s livelihood."

On the 27th of last month, ahead of the 2022 National Assembly audit, a senior opposition lawmaker made this remark on a radio program. The ruling party announced it would thoroughly expose the previous administration’s "failures," while the opposition vowed to reveal the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s "incompetence." From the outset, it was declared that a livelihood-focused audit would be difficult.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop appeared at the National Assembly audit on the Ministry of National Defense held on the 4th at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and took the witness oath. Photo by the National Assembly Press Corps

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom appeared at the National Assembly audit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff held at the Joint Chiefs of Staff building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 6th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Chairman Kim apologized, saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to residents and the public due to missile debris during the Korea-US joint surface-to-surface missile counterfire process against North Korea's missile provocations, and for failing to provide timely explanations to residents and the media afterward." Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

At the Ministry of National Defense audit, which marked the start of the National Assembly audit, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the Ministry, saying, "The cost of relocating the presidential office is said to be 1 trillion won, but it would be better to spend that money on defense capability improvement," and added, "History will judge this. They should be ashamed in front of their children." In response, Kim Ki-hyun of the People Power Party labeled the West Sea government official shooting incident as a "murder complicity controversy" and counterattacked, saying, "To uncover the truth, the National Assembly must pass a resolution to disclose presidential records."

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@

Ki Dong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the National Assembly's audit of the Supreme Court and others held on the 4th, attaching a sign saying "Stop Political Oppression" to his laptop. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

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@

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs audit, which drew much attention due to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s recent profanity controversy just before the audit, the Democratic Party strongly pushed for Foreign Minister Park Jin’s dismissal and resignation, citing the passage of a no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly. The People Power Party countered by calling it a "baseless political attack." Amid fierce confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, the audit failed to proceed normally, with repeated recesses and resumptions leading to disruptions.

In the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the ruling and opposition parties exchanged heated arguments centered on the Board of Audit and Inspection’s notification of a written investigation into former President Moon. Democratic Party lawmakers attached signs saying "Stop political oppression!" to their laptops placed on their desks before the audit began, while People Power Party lawmakers made signs reading "No to political battles, yes to livelihood audits."

On the 5th, Chung Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the inauguration ceremony of the 37th Chief Executive Monk Jinwoo of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism held at Jogyesa Temple in Susong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and are seen having a bright conversation. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 5th, during the ongoing National Assembly audit, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Jeong Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, who both attended the inauguration ceremony of Jinwoo Sunim as the 37th Chief Executive of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, showed a 'harmonious and friendly' demeanor quite different from their appearances at the audit.

Even in this audit, lawmakers still showed signs of distraction.

It is a very familiar scene to see lawmakers leaving their seats or dozing off when it is not their turn to question.

Especially this year, People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Un-cheon was caught sending text messages arranging a golf appointment during the audit, sparking controversy. A political commentator remarked, "Just like schools confiscate phones before class and return them after, perhaps lawmakers should have similar rules."

On the 4th, during the audit of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held at the National Assembly, Jeong Un-cheon, a member of the People Power Party, was making a golf appointment using a smartphone while Lee Chang-yang, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, was reporting on work status. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Song Eon-seok, a member of the People Power Party, attended the audit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Economic and Fiscal Policy) held at the National Assembly on the 4th, and during the audit, he could not resist drowsiness and closed his eyes. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 7th, seats of ruling party lawmakers were empty at the National Assembly audit of the NongHyup Central Association held at the NongHyup Central Association in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@