(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Pyeong-cheon = On the 13th, the ruling and opposition parties criticized the investigation capabilities of the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office (Corruption Investigation Office) during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the National Assembly.
The Democratic Party of Korea criticized that it failed to properly investigate independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, and the People Power Party criticized that it was not investigating ruling party figures, including Kim Hyun-ji, the first deputy director of the Blue House.
Rep. Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party said, "Criticism is rising regardless of the ruling and opposition parties because the 'Channel A incident' related to Han Dong-hoon was dismissed," he said.
Rep. Kim Han-gyu pointed out, "It took a year to investigate the case of Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, who was treated with liquor and female waitresses worth 4.09 million won at a room salon," and that "(since the launch of the Corruption Investigation Office) there have been only eight cases directly prosecuted."
Rep. Kim Ki-pyo said, “It is inefficient to respond to corruption crimes by increasing the Corruption Investigation Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Office,” and said that the scope of the Corruption Investigation Investigation Office should be adjusted.
Representative Park Gyun-taek pointed out, "Mr. Han Deok-soo was accused of dereliction of duty by not appointing a Constitutional Court judge (when he was acting president), but in the end, he did not conduct an investigation and handed over (the case) to the special prosecutor." He added, "Wouldn't it have been better if the Corruption Investigation Office had done it? It's really frustrating at times."
Rep. Park Ji-won said to Director Oh Dong-woon of the Corruption Investigation Office, "If you say you did your best without doing anything for three years, what can you do? Did Dong-hoon Han (investigation) work properly?" and added, "Director Oh is not capable. If you admit your shortcomings, you should leave."
On the other hand, Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party criticized, "Chief of Staff Kim Hyun-ji, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, etc. have been reported to the Corruption Investigation Office on charges of abuse of power, but they have done nothing. There is too little track record. The reason why the investigation is not possible is because there are no reports to investigative agencies that bow to power."
He pointed out, “Chief Kim Hyun-ji’s case is pending, but they haven’t even requested data (from the Blue House).”
Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek said, "We were notified (by the prosecution) about the Genencell case of Rep. Kim Seung-won (former candidate for Minister of Justice), but the Corruption Investigation Office did not investigate." He added, "Shouldn't the Corruption Investigation Office investigate National Assembly member Kim Seung-won? Without investigating, we can just indict (the person involved) if we look at the ruling."
Rep. Kwak emphasized, “It is meaningless to discuss poor investigative performance, and the Corruption Investigation Office is an institution that should be abolished.”
Rep. Kim Min-jeon said, "When I look at the Corruption Investigation Office, the word Tosa-gu Pang comes to mind," and argued, "Former President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested and Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, who was considered a thorn in the side of the government and ruling party, was also indicted. However, it is known that the Democratic Party's position is to exclude National Assembly members and the President from the Corruption Investigation Office's investigation target."
Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties also clashed over President Lee Jae-myung's 'holiday golf'.
People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo said, “I paid (payment of golf fees) with a credit card, I paid with cash.”
In response, Democratic Party members protested, saying, "You can't even make a noise when you're the legal secretary," "What does the card have to do with anything?", and "Does Secretary Yoon Seok-yeol (President's Office) have anything to say?"
Seo Young-kyo, chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Democratic Party, shot at Rep. Joo, saying, “You did it like a prosecutor,” and “Is it right to ask such a ridiculous question?”
