[2025 Audit] The Hot Potato 'Kim Hyunji'... Unavoidable Ruling and Opposition Clashes Across Committees

Fourth Day of the Lee Jaemyung Administration's First National Assembly Audit
Audit Sessions Scheduled in Ten Standing Committees Including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee

On the fourth day of the parliamentary audit on October 16, the National Assembly is conducting audit schedules in ten standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Political Affairs Committee, and the Strategy and Finance Committee.

National Assembly Building, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which is auditing the Board of Audit and Inspection, is expected to be a focal point of heated debate. The Democratic Party of Korea is expected to press for answers regarding allegations of preferential treatment during the relocation of the presidential residence under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The party also plans to call for an audit of the process of promoting the promising whale rescue drilling project. On the other hand, the People Power Party intends to question the background behind the Board of Audit and Inspection's formation of a "Reform Task Force (TF)."

During the audit by the Political Affairs Committee, issues such as the fate of Kim Hyungseok, Director of the Independence Hall of Korea, who is at the center of controversy over the "New Right historical perspective," are expected to be discussed. The Strategy and Finance Committee is conducting audits of the National Tax Service and the Seoul, Central, and Incheon Regional Tax Offices. The Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee is auditing the Korea Aerospace Administration, the Korea Foundation of Nuclear Safety, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. The Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee is auditing Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, while the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee is auditing Korea Expressway Corporation and Korea Transportation Safety Authority.

Meanwhile, the issue of whether Kim Hyunji, the First Secretary to the President, will appear as a witness remains another point of contention. Since October 13, eight out of the seventeen standing committees in the National Assembly have experienced disruptions over the attendance of Secretary Kim as a witness during the audit. The People Power Party has requested her appearance as a witness in connection with various issues, including intervention in the appointment of the Korea Forest Service chief (Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee), the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development cases (Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee), presidential office operations (Steering Committee), high-ranking official appointment controversies (Public Administration and Security Committee), asset formation (Strategy and Finance Committee), and intervention in the replacement of legal counsel for former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor for Peace Lee Hwayeong (Legislation and Judiciary Committee). Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting that day, "The appointment of a First Secretary to the President, a position with no precedent for attending the audit, is a trick to avoid appearing at the audit."

The Democratic Party of Korea maintains that the allegations against Secretary Kim are "false information" and is refusing to agree to her as a witness, but is also wary that its audit strategy could be undermined. One Democratic Party lawmaker said, "There are concerns that as the controversy over Secretary Kim intensifies, the audit could end up yielding no substantive results."