"Board of Audit and Inspection Also a Deep-Rooted Problem, Leadership Must Resign Collectively"... Public Criticism Under Real Name

Board of Audit and Inspection Employee Calls for Collective Resignation of Leadership Under Real Name

An employee of the Board of Audit and Inspection posted a message on the internal bulletin board under their real name, calling for the collective resignation of the current leadership (Grade 1 and above). It is unusual for an employee at the Board of Audit and Inspection to publicly demand the collective resignation of the leadership under their real name.

View of the Board of Audit and Inspection located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Board of Audit and Inspection on June 13, Kim Namjin, Head of the National Proposal Division 3, posted a message titled "The Only Way for Us to Survive is for the Leadership to Resign Collectively and Seek a Vote of Confidence" on the internal bulletin board on June 11.

Kim stated that, due to the controversy over the audit of the presidential residence relocation and the response to the impeachment motion against Chairperson Choi, "the Board of Audit and Inspection has suffered significant damage to its authority and has caused external distrust." Kim also wrote, "The Board of Audit and Inspection is now being called a deep-rooted problem that needs to be reformed as urgently as the Presidential Security Service or the prosecution."

Kim continued, "The new administration's pledge is to 'strengthen the political neutrality and independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection,' but if the people do not change and everything remains as it is, can we really achieve such reform ourselves?" Kim argued, "Instead of the current leadership and others attempting self-reform while facing distrust from the new administration, it would be an option for them to submit their resignations collectively, seek a vote of confidence, and follow the resulting decision." The implication is that Chairperson Choi, whose term runs until November this year, should make a decision regarding their position for the sake of reforming the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Speaking to Yonhap News on the same day, Kim said, "I posted the message to strengthen the independence and neutrality of the Board of Audit and Inspection, which is a constitutional institution," and added, "I have been on leave and resting since the day I posted the message."