The audit chief of the Korea Population and Health Welfare Association was caught attempting to enter the National Assembly using an ID badge belonging to the association's president, Kim Kyung-sun, with his own photo attached. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties criticized this as a clear case of document forgery and a serious breach of organizational discipline, calling for Kim's responsible resignation.
On October 22, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee conducted an audit of nine public institutions under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, including the Korea Population and Health Welfare Association. Before the audit began, lawmakers expressed their outrage over the ID forgery incident involving an executive from the association that occurred the previous afternoon.
According to Baek Jong-heon, the ruling party's committee member, at around 5:20 PM on October 21, the audit chief, referred to as A, was caught trying to enter the assembly building with a badge that had his photo affixed to it, which belonged to Kim Kyung-sun.
Investigations revealed that A had received an ID badge in his own name but had given it to a subordinate researcher, opting instead to forge the president's badge for his use. The association reportedly explained to lawmakers that this was done for convenience in carrying out National Assembly duties.
Baek stated, "Changing the photo on a National Assembly ID badge and passing it to another person under the pretext of convenience is a serious crime that violates current laws regarding document forgery and use." He emphasized that the fact that the audit chief, responsible for internal controls and compliance, committed such an illegal act demonstrates a complete failure of the association's auditing function.
The focus then shifted to Kim Kyung-sun, a former vice minister of gender equality and family. Baek noted, "Employees at the association claim they have never seen the president's ID in his name, but ignorance of this fact does not absolve him of management and oversight responsibilities. A thorough investigation by the National Assembly Secretariat and the Ministry of Health and Welfare is necessary, and Kim must apologize to the National Assembly and the public, taking responsibility for undermining organizational discipline and resign immediately."
Seong Young-seok, the opposition party's committee member, also supported these claims, stating, "It is unacceptable for an executive of a special corporation and a public-related organization to forge a National Assembly ID badge." He added, "There is a strong possibility that the association was aware of the illegal lending and use of ID badges and turned a blind eye. Changing the photo on a National Assembly ID badge constitutes a serious crime under Article 225 of the Criminal Code for document forgery, and using it falls under Article 229 for the use of forged documents, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison."
Furthermore, he stated, "This issue goes beyond individual misconduct and poses a serious challenge to the authority of the National Assembly, a constitutional institution. Therefore, strong legal measures must be taken at the committee level, separate from the audit."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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