[2025 Parliamentary Audit] "What Are You Doing?" vs. "Sarcasm and Mockery"... Legislation and Judiciary Committee Audit Ends in Chaos

The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's parliamentary audit on October 17 ended in chaos after a series of harsh verbal attacks.

People from the People Power Party are protesting against Chairwoman Chu Mi-ae's way of conducting the meeting. Photo by Yonhap News

Chu Mi-ae, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chairwoman from the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Since you have been continuously disrupting the proceedings, I will decide whether to give you the floor depending on your attitude," and postponed the speaking order of Assemblyman Kwak Gyutaek from the People Power Party.

People Power Party lawmakers protested strongly. Assemblyman Kwak criticized Chairwoman Chu, saying, "What are you talking about? What are you doing?" and "Are you unwell? You should see a doctor." He then approached the chairwoman's seat, pointed his finger, and demanded an apology from Chairwoman Chu.

Assembly members Na Kyungwon, Song Seokjun, and Cho Baesook from the People Power Party also approached the chairwoman's seat to protest. Assemblywoman Na said, "Is this committee Chairwoman Chu's personal property?" and "Where else is there a chair who acts so arbitrarily? This is dictatorship." Assemblyman Song stated, "You have deprived National Assembly members of their right to audit," while Assemblywoman Cho said, "How can you say you will grant or deny the right to speak based on a lawmaker's attitude?"

The audit resumed about 30 minutes later, but People Power Party lawmakers did not return. Chairwoman Chu played a video of the chaotic scene and said, "Today's disruption of the meeting was extremely frightening for me."

Chairwoman Chu said, "Even though I have continuously endured sarcastic and mocking remarks, I refrained from reacting because I was afraid the meeting would collapse. Just now, I was threatened with words like 'How dare you?' and with gestures that seemed as if someone was about to strike me."