Kim Byungki Questions Summoning Kim Hyunji to Audit: "Is It Necessary When There Was No Issue?"

Kim Byungki: "We Will Decide According to Principle"
"Personal Opinions on Kim Hyunji Are Not Relevant"

Kim Byungki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, questioned whether it was necessary to summon Kim Hyunji, deputy director of the Presidential Secretariat, to the National Assembly audit, asking, "Is it necessary to call her when there was no issue?"

Yonhap News Agency

At a meeting on October 10 at the National Assembly in Yeouido regarding the selection of witnesses for the National Assembly audit, Floor Leader Kim stated, "This issue is being strangely politicized," referring to Kim Hyunji's attendance at the audit.

He explained, "After reviewing the (National Assembly Steering Committee) minutes, I found that I had stated, 'If, after the resolution, a person in a witness position is changed due to personnel movement or if someone is newly appointed to a vacant position at the time of the resolution, the newly assigned person will be required to attend as a witness.' This is a matter of course." Kim Byungki currently serves as the chair of the Steering Committee.

He continued, "To deviate from this, there would have to have been an issue with Kim Hyunji's appointment, such as a personnel mishap or a problem related to her own work. Since there was no such issue, is there a reason to summon her?" He added sarcastically, "If we are to summon her, shouldn't we instead call Kim Keonhee, who was most involved in personnel matters?"

Kim Byungki further stated, "We plan to convene the Steering Committee around the 15th to select witnesses, and we will make a thorough and principled decision after careful review."

He also noted, "There are personal opinions being raised regarding Kim Hyunji's attendance, but these do not need to be considered. I have never consulted with those individuals, nor is there any need to do so. The official position will be determined by the chair of the Steering Committee or by the committee itself."

Moon Jinseok, deputy floor leader in charge of the Steering Committee, added, "The matter of institutional witnesses is a matter for agreement between the committee secretaries. However, as I have said before, we firmly oppose using this issue as fuel for political strife."