Over-defense National Assembly inspection witness, Lee Kwan-seop adopted, Han Sang-hyuk rejected... Opposition to national power (comprehensive 2nd report)

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jeong-jin = The ruling and opposition parties clashed on the 15th at the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly over the issue of adopting additional witnesses for the government audit.

The National Security Committee held a plenary meeting this afternoon and decided, led by the ruling Democratic Party, to additionally adopt Lee Kwan-seop, former chief of staff to President Yoon Seok-yeol, as a witness for the audit of state affairs.

Five People Power Party lawmakers voted against.

The Democratic Party requested that former Director Lee be used as a witness to clarify suspicions that the Yoon Seok-yeol government exerted external pressure during the YTN sale process.

In response, Rep. Choi Hyeong-du of the People Power Party, a member of the opposition party, protested, saying, "(The suspicion of the sale of YTN) is an issue in which the truth will be fully revealed through an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection or other subsequent measures," and added, "If you insist on adding former Director Lee, I will also vote for former Korea Communications Commission Chairman Han Sang-hyuk."

Former Chairman Han was indicted on charges of interfering in the review process for the re-approval of TV Chosun's comprehensive programming channel during the Moon Jae-in administration.

In response, Rep. Han Joon-ho of the Democratic Party, a secretary of the ruling party, mentioned the audit results of the Board of Audit and Inspection related to the suspicion of illegal sales of YTN and said, "It is a matter worthy of a full request for the standing committee to question the responsible person."

Afterwards, in accordance with the People Power Party's request, the agenda to adopt former Chairman Han as a witness was also voted on separately, but was rejected with 6 votes in favor, 11 against, and 1 abstention.

Accordingly, members of the People's Power Party issued a statement and criticized, "The Democratic Party pushed ahead with the adoption of former Chief Lee as a witness by voting with the power of the majority party, but opposed the adoption of former Chairman Han as a witness," and added, "The National Assembly Audit is not a political court that selects witnesses according to the regime's taste."

He continued, "Former Chairman Han must be questioned in front of the public about the fairness of the Korea Communications Commission's decision-making process and review during the review of TV Chosun's re-approval," and added, "In order to protect the freedom and independence of broadcasting, we demand a fair verification in accordance with the facts and law."

At the plenary meeting this morning, the Oversight and Defense Committee additionally adopted Google Korea President Yoon Koo,