National Audit from the 7th to the 1st of Next Month
Opposition: "Relentless Pursuit in All Standing Committees"
The first national audit of the 22nd National Assembly has begun. The 17 standing committees of the National Assembly will conduct audits on 802 institutions until November 1. On the first day of the audit, the opposition launched a major offensive, vowing to thoroughly investigate the allegations of state manipulation related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee. The People Power Party countered with allegations related to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and former President Moon Jae-in.
On the 7th, Lee Jae-myung urged at the Supreme Council meeting, "Please properly exercise the powers held by the National Assembly and faithfully perform its fundamental role of monitoring and checking the government so that the people can feel even a little relief and hope." Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "We will thoroughly investigate all matters with allegations, including the state manipulation suspicions involving Kim Geon-hee, in all standing committees and resolve the public’s doubts."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Park Chan-dae, floor leader, are shaking hands at the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Democratic Party's comprehensive situation room for the National Assembly audit held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
The People Power Party worked hard to block the opposition’s offensive while mounting a counterattack. Despite it being the first day of the audit, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, devoted most of his remarks at the Supreme Council meeting to attacking Lee Jae-myung. Regarding Lee’s previous statement that "If the situation is so serious that we cannot wait for the election, it is democracy to remove [the person] even in the middle," Choo criticized it as "revealing his true intentions about impeachment." However, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, drew attention by suggesting that the ruling party could also act as a check on the government during the audit. Han said, "(The audit) is about helping to come up with practical measures to improve the lives of the people," adding, "We should praise what the government does well and, as representatives of the people, point out and guide any wrong directions or shortcomings."
Minister Ahn Deok-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is taking the witness oath at the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee's audit of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
The opposition plans to focus on probing issues related to First Lady Kim. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee is expected to investigate allegations of stock manipulation involving Kim, the Public Administration and Security Committee will look into illegal expansion of the presidential residence and interference in candidate nominations, the Education Committee will examine plagiarism allegations, and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee will probe preferential treatment allegations related to the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. Meanwhile, the ruling party plans to point out Lee Jae-myung’s Daejang-dong scandal and allegations of remittances to North Korea in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and allegations of misuse of corporate cards during his time as governor of Gyeonggi Province in the Public Administration and Security Committee. Additionally, allegations of preferential hiring involving former President Moon’s ex-son-in-law, overseas trips with a leisure purpose by First Lady Kim Jung-sook during the previous administration, and drunk driving controversies involving Moon’s daughter Moon Da-hye are also expected to be addressed during the audit.
Contrary to the opposition’s expectations, there are concerns that the audit could be a "bland audit" due to refusals by key witnesses to appear or testify. In response, the Democratic Party has announced a firm stance on dealing with refusals to appear, refusals to testify, or uncooperative answers during the audit. Park Sung-joon, senior deputy floor leader in charge of the Democratic Party’s comprehensive audit situation room, said on MBC Radio, "Our consistent position is to take strong legal action," adding, "We will issue summonses and file complaints." They are also considering legislative measures such as introducing compulsory attendance rules for witnesses and punitive provisions.
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