Audit Board Requests Investigation of Environment Ministry Officials
Aftermath of Audit Results Announced the Day Before
On the 21st, Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Hold Press Conference at National Assembly
As the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit report on the Four Major Rivers Project was released, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a blame game.
On the morning of the 21st, both parties held press conferences side by side at the National Assembly Communication Office to announce their respective positions on the 'Public Interest Audit Request regarding the dismantling and permanent opening of the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs' announced by the Board of Audit and Inspection the previous day.
According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Ministry of Environment was criticized for conducting an unreasonable economic feasibility analysis by using methods with limitations in terms of validity and reliability instead of scientific and rational methods, citing the set deadline of the national agenda. The Board further stated, "We have taken measures such as requesting investigations against Ministry of Environment officials who unfairly formed the planning and expert committees mainly composed of personnel recommended by specific organizations to prepare the weir management plan."
On the afternoon of November 13, 2017, the sluice gates of Baekjebbo in Buyeo-gun, Chungnam were opened to release water. The government expanded the monitoring targets for deciding the management plan of the four major rivers' weirs from the existing 6 weirs to 14 weirs, and among them, 7 weirs began the procedure to gradually increase to the maximum possible water level on this day. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
In response, the ruling party criticized, "The Moon Jae-in administration's plan for managing the Four Major Rivers weirs was unscientific and irrational in both procedure and method," adding, "Using arbitrary indicators and data, the decision to open and dismantle the weirs was rushed and forced within a short period of two months."
Im Eui-ja, the ruling party's floor spokesperson on the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee and a member of the People Power Party, said at the press conference, "The results of this Board of Audit and Inspection audit reveal a 'second national scandal' where the Moon Jae-in government formed a cartel with environmental groups to push policies unscientifically and hastily," urging the investigative authorities to thoroughly investigate former Minister of Environment Kim Eun-kyung and related officials.
On the other hand, the opposition party criticized the audit itself as a politically targeted inspection. They argued that since the audit was requested by the 'Four Major Rivers National Union,' led by Lee Jae-oh, an honorary advisor of the People Power Party, the Board of Audit and Inspection lost its independence regarding its duties.
Lee Su-jin, the opposition floor spokesperson on the Environment and Labor Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the press conference, "Whenever there seems to be a problem, or even when there is none, they want to pin the blame on the previous administration," adding, "Isn't this a political conflict using the Board of Audit and Inspection to push through false accusations as if the previous government was at fault for what they themselves cannot do?" Lee added, "The public will not forgive the ruling party and government for their behavior, which should responsibly consider the future, environment, and safety."
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