[2024 National Audit] Seoul City Visits Goseong... "They're Being Annoying" vs "Is the Head of the Audited Agency a Criminal?"

Controversy Over Myeong Taekyun at Seoul City National Audit Hearing
Opposition: "Did We Come Here to Listen... Sarcastic"
Mayor Oh Se-hoon Responds: "Am I Being Sarcastic Now?"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's audit by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee faced disruptions from the outset. Although the policy audit seemed to proceed smoothly with Mayor Oh Se-hoon's greeting and the Chief of Planning and Coordination Office's report, a clash eventually erupted over the 'Myeong Tae-gyun controversy.' The situation escalated to the point where remarks accusing Mayor Oh of being 'sarcastic' were made, and Mayor Oh, who did not get a chance to respond to policy questions, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Is the head of the audited agency a criminal?"

On the morning of the 15th, during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit held in Seoul, Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, began questioning by asking about the relationship between Mayor Oh and Myeong Tae-gyun, a key figure in the allegations of Kim Geon-hee's 'nomination interference.'

On the 15th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the National Assembly inspection of Seoul City Hall held by the Administrative Safety Committee at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, and responded to questions from assembly members. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

In response, Mayor Oh said, "This is not a question suitable for the audit venue," and drew a line by stating, "That matter is neither a state-delegated task nor a project funded by national subsidies, so there is no reason to answer it," but added, "Since you want an answer (I will speak)." Regarding the claim that Mr. Myeong intervened in the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election to lead unification, he dismissed it as "absurd talk."

Especially when Representative Yoon asked, "Even though Mr. Myeong is threatening the President and First Lady, the Presidential Office has not responded. There are also defamatory remarks about the Mayor," and inquired about the intention to file a lawsuit, Mayor Oh said, "The complaint has already been written."

However, when he did not have enough time to respond, Mayor Oh expressed dissatisfaction toward Representative Yoon. He said, "It is unfair to the audited agency. If an issue is raised, time to respond should be given for fairness," and added, "Is the head of the agency a criminal? The head must be heard." Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon of the Public Administration and Security Committee also warned members to guarantee response time for the audited agency, but some members expressed dissatisfaction, noting a difference in how Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province was treated during the previous day's audit.

The problem began when Representative Yoon's questions shifted to the 'Han River.' He pointed out that Gimpo was excluded from the Han River bus route and criticized it as 'hasty,' to which Mayor Oh responded that Gimpo was excluded because the local member of the National Assembly opposed it and said, "It is not hasty but swift."

During this process, opposition party members criticized, saying, "Did we come here to listen to the Mayor?" and eventually, Democratic Party member Lee Kwang-hee used the expression 'sarcastic' toward Mayor Oh. Mayor Oh repeatedly mentioned, "Your expression is excessive," and asked back, "Am I being sarcastic now?"

As the commotion continued, Chairman Shin declared a suspension of the audit around 11:32 a.m., temporarily adjourning the session. However, the audit resumed around 11:55 a.m., and members continued with policy questions.