On the 15th, the 7th day of the National Assembly audit, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to continue their disputes over allegations of preferential treatment in awarding the presidential office residence construction contract related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee at nine standing committees, including the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Additionally, the National Assembly Administration and Security Committee is expected to face intense attacks from the ruling party regarding the drunk driving accident involving Moon Da-hye, daughter of former President Moon Jae-in. In the afternoon, Hani, a member of the girl group NewJeans, is scheduled to appear as a witness related to 'workplace harassment.'
During the audit on this day, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee will focus on discussing allegations related to the presidential office residence construction contract with the Board of Audit and Inspection. 21Gram, which was awarded the contract for the presidential residence construction, is a sponsor company of Cobana Contents, an exhibition planning company operated by First Lady Kim Geon-hee, and the contract was carried out through a private contract, raising controversy over preferential treatment. The opposition party has summoned Kim Tae-young, CEO of 21Gram, and Kim Oh-jin, former Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and then Presidential Office Management Secretary, who oversaw the residence construction, as witnesses. Previously, last month, the National Assembly Administration and Security Committee summoned the two CEOs, Kim Tae-young and Lee Seung-man, as witnesses to verify preferential treatment by 21Gram, but they did not attend the audit without submitting reasons for their absence.
The disclosure of the Board of Audit and Inspection's meeting report related to allegations of the presidential residence relocation is also controversial. The opposition claims that most of the evidence such as documents, reports, and emails have disappeared, making it difficult to ascertain the facts. The opposition emphasizes that the Board of Audit and Inspection must disclose the minutes to resolve suspicions of First Lady Kim's involvement, manipulation of the completion inspection report, and controversies over inadequate or false audits.
On this day, the Administration and Security Committee will conduct a National Assembly audit targeting Seoul City Hall and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The core issue is expected to continue focusing on the drunk driving incident involving former President Moon Jae-in's daughter, Da-hye. Earlier, on the early morning of the 5th, Moon was involved in a collision with a taxi while changing lanes near a bus stop in front of the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, while driving under the influence. The so-called 'customs drug investigation cover-up suspicion' is also under intense scrutiny by the opposition. This case involves allegations that the police were pressured from higher-ups after continuing an investigation into customs officials' involvement immediately after arresting drug gang members last year. There are suspicions that the presidential office was mentioned during this process. The opposition has summoned witnesses including Baek Hae-ryong, Chief of the Hwagok Police Substation at Gangseo Police Station (Police Superintendent), who raised these suspicions, and officials from the Incheon Main Customs Office.
In the afternoon audit of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, Hani, a member of the girl group NewJeans, is scheduled to appear as a witness. The core controversy revolves around allegations that NewJeans was subjected to workplace ostracism during the dispute between former agency CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE. Kim Ju-young, the new CEO of Adore, was also summoned as a witness on this day. The ruling and opposition parties plan to question the Ministry of Employment and Labor on whether the issue constitutes 'workplace harassment' under the Labor Standards Act.
Additionally, the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee is expected to focus on issues regarding the existence and privatization of TBS and YTN. The opposition plans to scrutinize the share sale process through inquiries to the Korea Communications Commission, which approved the change of the largest shareholder of YTN from Eugene Group. Furthermore, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in heated debates over the removal of TBS's designation as a Seoul Metropolitan Government-funded institution..
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