Day 3 of the National Audit Also 'Kim Geon-hee Audit'... Nomination Interference Controversy Addressed in the Public Administration Committee

9 Standing Committees Conduct National Audit
Tax Revenue Shortfall Issue in the Strategy and Finance Committee
Unfair Loans at Woori Financial to Be Addressed in the Political Affairs Committee

On the 3rd day of the 10-day National Assembly audit, allegations of Kim Geon-hee's interference in candidate nominations during the last general election and issues related to nuclear power generation will be addressed. During the Ministry of Economy and Finance audit by the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee, the issue of tax revenue shortfalls is expected to be a major focus.

On this day, audits will be conducted in nine standing committees of the National Assembly. The most attention-grabbing audit will be held by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. The audit will cover the National Election Commission and the Fire Agency, with Kim Geon-hee's involvement in candidate nominations during the last general election expected to be the hottest issue.

In this regard, the ruling and opposition parties have summoned witnesses including Myung Tae-gyun, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, and former presidential office administrator Kim Dae-nam. However, they have submitted letters of absence citing ongoing investigations against them.

Additionally, the Public Administration and Security Committee is expected to address issues such as the increased workload on emergency responders due to the rotation system in emergency rooms following the increase in medical school admissions.

The issue of nuclear power generation is also expected to be discussed. Controversy is anticipated during the National Assembly Science, Technology, Broadcasting and Communications Committee audit over the nuclear phase-out policy. The opposition plans to raise issues such as the extension of the lifespan of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and concerns about environmental radiation.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At the Planning and Finance Committee, the financial authorities are expected to be questioned about the anticipated tax revenue shortfall of 29.6 trillion won this year, following last year's 56 trillion won deficit. Other topics likely to be discussed include sluggish domestic demand, tax law revisions, and issues related to tax arrears.

During the Environment and Labor Committee audit, issues related to workplace accidents and deaths at Coupang will be intensively examined. Lee Yong-woo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed that Coupang's industrial accident rate from 2020 to 2023 was 5.9%, which is four times higher than the construction industry's rate of 1.45%.

In the Political Affairs Committee, amid the rapid increase in household debt and the testimony of Lim Jong-ryong, chairman of Woori Financial Group, controversy is expected over Woori Bank's improper loans to corporations related to former Woori Financial chairman Sohn Tae-seung's relatives.