Board of Audit and Inspection Chief "Deep Regret Over Political Impeachment Undermining Constitutional Order"... Board of Audit and Inspection 'Embarrassed'

"If the impeachment bill passes, we will create countermeasures"

Chairman Choi Jae-hae of the Board of Audit and Inspection is speaking about his position on impeachment as he enters the National Assembly Budget Committee meeting on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News

Choi Jae-hae, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), expressed on the 29th his deep regret over the Democratic Party of Korea's push for impeachment, stating, "I am very sorry about the political impeachment that undermines the foundation of the constitutional order."

Choi made these remarks in response to reporters' questions about the impeachment drive during his visit to the National Assembly to attend the plenary session of the Budget and Accounts Committee.

When asked how he would respond if the impeachment motion is expected to pass, he said, "I hope it does not pass," adding, "If it does, we will have to come up with a response plan at that time." He also flatly denied any intention to resign voluntarily, saying, "I have no such intention."

Regarding the allegations of a "poor audit of the presidential office residence relocation," which the Democratic Party cited as grounds for impeachment, he stated, "We included everything we investigated in the audit report," and in response to criticism that no connection to First Lady Kim Keon-hee was confirmed, he said, "We conducted the investigation to the fullest extent but could not establish any connection."

In case of suspension of the chairman's authority, Jo Eun-seok to act as interim chairman with a 'different voice'

The BAI is visibly bewildered by the unprecedented impeachment of its chairman. If the Democratic Party passes the impeachment motion against Chairman Choi, his authority will be suspended until the Constitutional Court makes a decision. In this case, among the six audit commissioners, Jo Eun-seok, the longest-serving member, will act as interim chairman. Commissioner Jo served as the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office chief during the Moon Jae-in administration and has often voiced dissenting opinions in the Audit Committee. Commissioner Jo will retire in January next year upon the expiration of his term, after which Commissioner Kim In-hoe will take over as interim chairman. Commissioner Kim co-authored a book titled "Thinking about the Prosecution" with former President Moon. Kim's term lasts until December next year.

A BAI official said, "The Audit Committee has effectively operated with a 3-3 split, with Chairman Choi, who presides over meetings, exercising the casting vote, but this balance will be broken if Chairman Choi's authority is suspended," adding, "Decisions require the approval of four out of six members, so various audit results could be rejected." The official continued, "Long-term audits require disciplinary or corrective actions, but if these are rejected, the efforts could be in vain," expressing concern that "if the current situation, where there is no brake on the reckless behavior such as the chairman's impeachment, continues, the BAI will not only be unable to perform its constitutional functions properly but also face many side effects."

The BAI stated the day before, in response to the Democratic Party of Korea's decision to hold a party caucus in the National Assembly to push for Chairman Choi's impeachment, that "this will paralyze the constitutional functions of the BAI and ultimately cause serious harm to the people." The BAI said, "The impeachment drive against the chairman of the BAI, which violates the Constitution and laws, paralyzes the state's unique public service order maintenance function aimed at establishing national accounting order and public service discipline," and criticized, "Such attempts to undermine the independence and political neutrality of the BAI are nothing but unjust pressure violating the spirit of the Constitution."

Earlier, the Democratic Party announced its plan to push for the impeachment of Chairman Choi, citing the "poor audit" of the presidential office residence relocation as the reason, and intends to report the impeachment motion to the plenary session of the National Assembly scheduled for the 2nd of next month after filing it. This is the first time an impeachment motion against the head of the BAI has been filed in the National Assembly.