Second Day of Government Audit: Clashes Over NIRS Fire, Lee Jinsook’s Arrest, and North Korea Policy

Government Audit Conducted Simultaneously Across 14 Standing Committees

On October 14, the National Assembly continues with the second day of the first government audit under the Lee Jaemyung administration. Fourteen standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, and the Health and Welfare Committee, are expected to see heated debates between the ruling and opposition parties over issues such as the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) fire, the arrest of former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsook, North Korea policy, and the potential abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office.

On this day, the National Assembly will conduct audits across a total of 14 standing committees: the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Political Affairs Committee, the Planning and Finance Committee, the Education Committee, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, the National Defense Committee, the Public Administration and Security Committee, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, the Health and Welfare Committee, the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is greeting after finishing his remarks at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's National Assembly audit held on October 13, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

First, a confrontation is expected between the ruling and opposition parties over responsibility for and the response to the unprecedented NIRS fire, which paralyzed 709 administrative information systems. The Democratic Party of Korea is highlighting the previous administration’s lack of redundancy for critical information systems, while the People Power Party is expected to criticize President Lee Jaemyung’s inadequate response, including his appearance on an entertainment program at the time of the fire.

At the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, fierce exchanges are expected regarding the arrest and release of former Chairperson Lee Jinsook, focusing on alleged violations of political neutrality and suspicions of unlawful investigation. Lee Jinsook was arrested by the police on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act on October 2, just before the Chuseok holiday, but was released on October 4 after filing for a warrant review with the court.

Intense debate is also anticipated at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit, where Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung will be present. Recently, controversy arose after he referred to North Korea as one of the "three countries capable of striking the U.S. mainland." At the National Defense Committee audit, the "Pyongyang drone suspicion" under the Yoon Sukyeol administration will be discussed, while the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee will address energy and nuclear power policies of both the previous Yoon Sukyeol administration and the current government.

At the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Justice and related agencies, tensions are expected between the ruling party, which claims illegal and unjust investigations by the previous administration’s prosecution (such as the "Lee Hwayoung salmon and drinking party inducement suspicion"), and the Democratic Party, which is pushing for the abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office and prosecutorial reform. The People Power Party is also expected to argue the unfairness of special investigations into opposition figures by the three major special prosecutor teams (insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and Chae Sangbyeong cases).

In addition, the Political Affairs Committee will address the issue of Homeplus store closures, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee will discuss the KT unauthorized small payment incident, and the Education Committee will continue inquiries regarding the Reebak School case.