[2025 Audit] Choi Jaehae: "Will Actively Consider Audit of NIRS Fire if Necessary"

Regarding Calls for Special Inspection of Official's Death During Special Prosecutor's Investigation
"It Is Not Subject to Work Inspection"

Choi Jaehae, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, stated regarding the administrative computer network paralysis caused by the fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) that "if necessary, we will actively consider conducting an audit."

Yonhap News Agency

On October 16, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Chairman Choi responded to People Power Party lawmaker Song Seokjun's suggestion that an audit is needed regarding the network paralysis incident by making this statement.

However, regarding Song's argument that a special inspection is also necessary for the case in which a Yangpyeong County official died during the investigation by the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor's team, Choi replied, "Investigative actions by the special prosecutor are excluded from our internal rules on work inspections," adding, "It is difficult to proceed."

Chairman Choi, whose term ends in November, was asked by People Power Party lawmaker Cho Baesook to share his thoughts. He said, "Looking back four years, I felt pride as the first chairman from within the Board of Audit and Inspection, but I also felt the great weight of responsibility that came with it." He added, "With my juniors watching, I felt a strong sense of duty to finish well." Chairman Choi will retire on November 12.

Meanwhile, when Democratic Party lawmaker Park Kyuntaek asked if he had any regrets about his work at the Board of Audit and Inspection, Choi replied, "There were some disappointments, but not to the extent of regret." Chairman Choi was impeached by the National Assembly in December last year over allegations of inadequate and targeted audits, but he returned to work in March after the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment.