[2022 National Audit] Kim Moon-soo: "Moon Jae-in is a Kim Il-sungist"... Walks Out of Audit Session

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, referred to former President Moon Jae-in as a Kim Il-sungist, causing the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit on the 12th to break down. The Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly removed Chairman Kim, stating that he was obstructing the smooth progress of the audit.

During the audit that day, the opposition party focused on criticizing Chairman Kim's past remarks, who, despite being a labor activist, acted as a politician and directly criticized the labor sector. Chairman Kim targeted former President Moon Jae-in by calling him "deserving of summary execution" and referred to the Democratic Party of Korea as "pro-North Korean Kim Il-sungists who deny the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea," placing himself at the center of controversy with his far-right actions.

Even during the audit that continued after dinner that day, Chairman Kim's remarks caused problems. In response to Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi's question, "Do you think former President Moon Jae-in is a pro-North Korean Jusa faction?" Chairman Kim answered, "If former President Moon respects Shin Young-bok as his most admired thinker, then he is a Kim Il-sungist." In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-shik said, "A person with such confirmation bias has no right to be in this place," and fellow party member Jin Sung-jun also said, "I am utterly appalled."

The opposition party also requested to file charges against Chairman Kim under the Act on Testimony, Inspection, and Punishment of Perjury in the National Assembly, accusing him of insulting the National Assembly. Eventually, Committee Chairman Jeon Hae-cheol declared the suspension of the audit, saying, "Whether Chairman Kim leaves, is charged, or the audit date is rescheduled, some action must be taken, so the secretaries should discuss this."

After the audit resumed, Chairman Jeon said, "Chairman Kim was at the center of the controversy that disrupted the smooth progress of the audit," and "Judging that he was obstructing the audit, I will take measures to remove Chairman Kim." Subsequently, Chairman Kim was removed, and ruling party lawmakers also protested loudly before leaving the audit hall.