On October 15, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties engaged in heated exchanges during national audits conducted by various committees, including the Land Infrastructure Committee, Judiciary Committee, Administrative Safety Committee, Science and Technology Committee, and Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee, prioritizing political conflict over public welfare.
In the Land Infrastructure Committee, the People Power Party reiterated allegations of illegal surveillance related to the real estate policies of the Moon Jae-in administration, demanding the attendance of former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi and other officials.
Representative Kim Eun-hye, who previously raised the issue, stated, "During last week's audit, the Democratic Party's administration revealed a blacklist document that indicated illegal surveillance and retaliation against private citizens criticizing real estate policies. However, there has been no response to our request for witnesses for a week." She insisted that Kim and other officials should be summoned as witnesses.
In response, Democratic Party Representative Jeon Yong-ki countered, "If you are calling for Kim and others based on political conspiracy theories, then I will call for Kim Geon-hee from Incheon International Airport Corporation, who is involved in personnel manipulation." He argued that focusing solely on politically charged witnesses would prevent the committee from hearing those necessary for public welfare.
The Judiciary Committee saw a debate over Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal to accept a request for judicial appointments. Democratic Party Representative Kim Dong-ah emphasized, "If the president requests a recommendation, the Chief Justice has a constitutional obligation to comply. Failing to do so would be neglecting his duties."
In contrast, People Power Party Representative Yoon Sang-hyun argued, "The request for recommendations undermines the National Assembly's authority to approve appointments. Prioritizing the president's appointment power is a dictatorial mindset."
The Administrative Safety Committee's main issue was the alleged bribery scandal involving Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and the Han River bus service. The Democratic Party raised questions about the mayor's accountability, while the People Power Party dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated.
Democratic Party Representative Park Joo-min stated, "If the allegations are true, this goes beyond mere corruption related to project costs; it is a case of administrative truth suppression," suggesting the possibility of the mayor's involvement.
In response, People Power Party Representative Kwon Young-jin urged restraint, stating, "Claiming 'Oh Se-hoon is under investigation for bribery' is an exaggeration."
The Science and Technology Committee witnessed friction between People Power Party Representative Kim Jang-gyeom and the ruling party's secretary Han Jun-ho over allegations of external pressure on KBS. Kim claimed that during negotiations over questioning time, Han's side demanded a public apology regarding the KBS pressure allegations, asserting, "It is unacceptable for aides to apologize to opposition lawmakers."
Han refuted, saying, "Representative Kim attacked me based on an unverified incident, and KBS has clearly stated that it has never experienced external pressure."
Additionally, the Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee faced disruptions over the submission of personnel documents from heads of agencies, including Nam Kwang-woo of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute. People Power Party Representative Na Kyung-won criticized the lack of document submission as an act of ignoring the National Assembly, suggesting that Kim Hyun-ji, the chief secretary to the president, and Jeong Jin-sang, the former chief of staff, may have been involved in the personnel matters.
In response, Lee Geon-tae, a Democratic Party representative known for his pro-Lee Jae-myung stance, argued, "Nam's statement was that he would comply with the National Assembly's decisions. Shifting all responsibility to the witnesses is contrary to the dignity of the National Assembly."
As disagreements continued, members of the People Power Party staged a mass walkout, and the committee chair, Kim Jeong-ho, announced the suspension of the audit, effectively halting the proceedings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.