Opposition Emphasizes Need for Impeachment of Audit Board Chairman for Undermining Political Neutrality

The Democratic Party of Korea emphasized the necessity of impeachment against Choi Jae-hae, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, on the 30th, stating that he "has completely undermined the political neutrality of the Board of Audit and Inspection."

Choi Jae-hae, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, is speaking at the plenary session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the same day, Kang Yoo-jung, the party's floor spokesperson, stated in a briefing, "Director Choi consistently conducted a negligent audit by saying 'I don't know the problem' regarding the presidential residence construction contract awarded without competitive bidding to an unqualified acquaintance of the First Lady, and he also refused to submit documents."

Kang criticized, "It is Director Choi himself who damaged the independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection by calling it a 'supporting agency for the president's state administration.'

Earlier, in July 2022, Director Choi appeared before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and was criticized by the opposition for answering 'I think it is a supporting agency' to the question, 'Is the Board of Audit and Inspection an agency that supports the president's state administration or not?'

Regarding the prosecution's collective statement by senior officials and the Board of Audit and Inspection's emergency senior meeting in response to the Democratic Party's impeachment push, Kang said, "This violates the obligation to prohibit collective action under the National Public Officials Act," and added, "We will not stand idly by."

The Democratic Party plans to report the impeachment motion against Director Choi, Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo, and two other prosecutors to the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 2nd of next month and hold a vote on the 4th.