Witness Agreement Fails Despite Negotiations Between Parties
People Power Party Argues "Need to Clarify Suspicions"
Democratic Party Counters With "Political Attack"
For the upcoming National Assembly Steering Committee audit of the Presidential Office scheduled for November 6, only 12 agency witnesses, including Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, have been selected. Kim Hyunji, First Secretary to the President, whose attendance was the subject of several rounds of negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties, was ultimately not called as a witness.
On October 29, the National Assembly convened the Steering Committee to discuss the "Request for Attendance of Witnesses for the National Audit." However, instead of reaching a bipartisan agreement, the committee adopted only the agency witnesses through a show-of-hands vote.
The People Power Party argued that Kim should appear as a witness to clarify suspicions raised during the audit. The Democratic Party of Korea countered, calling this a political attack.
Kim Eunhye, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "The Democratic Party's proposal for Kim Hyunji's attendance is for her to appear in the morning and not in the afternoon. Is the audit like ordering half-and-half chicken? This is a comedy, all because they're trying to protect one person, Kim Hyunji." She added, "The Democratic Party calls in the Chief Justice, who is third in the national protocol order, to mock and berate him, so why are they so flustered and cautious about a first-grade secretary attending?"
Kwak Gyutaek, also of the People Power Party, stated, "There are suspicions that Kim influenced the appointment of the head of the Korea Forest Service and that she forced Lee Jaemyung's presidential trial attorney to resign." He further asserted, "Since it has been confirmed that Kim exercised authority beyond that of the General Affairs Secretary, she is a witness who must appear."
Kim Gipyo of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized, "With nothing to say about the presidential couple, the main opposition party is dragging out an obscure presidential aide, going all out with media play, and spreading all sorts of slander and falsehoods." Jeon Yonggi, another Democratic Party lawmaker, questioned, "Kim only served as General Affairs Secretary for just over 100 days. Is there really that much to ask?"
Previously, the ruling and opposition parties held negotiations over whether to call Kim as a witness. The Democratic Party proposed that Kim attend only the morning session of the audit, but the People Power Party rejected this, arguing that the morning session is mostly for work reports, leaving insufficient time for questions. President Lee Jaemyung is said to have instructed his aides to ensure Kim's attendance as a witness regarding this issue.
The Democratic Party reportedly requested the attendance of former President Yoon Sukyeol and his spouse, former Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jinseok, and former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Taehyo at the audit of the Presidential Office, citing the need to uncover the truth about the 12·3 Rebellion. The People Power Party reportedly requested Choi Myungsoo, a tax accountant and Kim's spouse; Jeon Jinbae and Je Chanwoong, CEOs of JTBC; and Lee Boojin, CEO of Hotel Shilla, to appear as witnesses.
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