[2024 National Audit] Illegal Extension Suspicion at Presidential Residence... Sangmin Lee "Obtained Necessary Permits"

National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee Audit... Controversy over '21 Gram' Qualification
Lee Sang-min "Reported Contract Signed as No Major Issues"
Opposition Committee Member Issues Accompaniment Order for 21 Gram CEO... "On the Run"

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min stated on the 7th regarding the allegations of illegal extension of the presidential residence, "Although there were some procedural flaws, the necessary permits were obtained, and I was informed that there were no safety issues."

During the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit on the same day, in response to a question from Assemblyman Mo Kyung-jong of the Democratic Party of Korea about how the interior company '21gram' secured the residence construction contract through a private contract, Minister Lee mentioned, "After verifying the qualification requirements, I was informed that there were no particular issues, so the contract was concluded."

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min is receiving a report from a staff member during the audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held by the Administrative Safety Committee at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

21gram is a sponsor company of Kobana Contents, an exhibition planning company formerly operated by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and it became controversial for securing the presidential residence construction contract through a private contract without competition. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety received contingency funds from the Ministry of Economy and Finance in April 2022 for the presidential residence repair work and, upon recommendation from the Presidential Secretariat, entered into a private contract with 21gram, thereby supporting administrative tasks.

On the same day, Assemblyman Mo asked, "Since 21gram is an interior company, wouldn't it have been unable to carry out the extension construction?" However, Minister Lee responded, "21gram only handled the interior part, and the extension part was carried out separately by a company holding an extension license, as I was informed." In response, Assemblyman Mo criticized, "Entrusting the work to a company that can only do interior work is itself hasty and flawed. Just because the Secretariat said there was no problem doesn't mean it's over. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety neglected its duties."

Earlier, opposition members of the Public Administration and Security Committee issued a summons order and proceeded with enforcement when the CEO of 21gram, who was summoned as a witness for the audit, did not appear. The summons order is a system based on Article 6 of the Act on Testimony, Inspection, and Records at the National Assembly, which allows ordering the attendance of witnesses or reference persons who refuse to appear without reason during a national investigation or audit.

The enforcement of the summons on this day was carried out jointly by opposition members from the Democratic Party of Korea, the People's Innovation Party, and the Basic Income Party. Although the members visited the office in the afternoon, the 21gram office was locked, and there was no sign of presence. At the scene, Assemblyman Yoon Gun-young of the Democratic Party emphasized, "The witness, who was agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly, not only failed to attend the audit but also refused to receive the attendance request. In short, they are running away."