(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Oh Gyu-jin = The National Assembly's audit of the Blue House was repeatedly adjourned due to sharp arguments between the ruling and opposition parties over the participation of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu.
The Democratic Party of Korea objected to Rep. Kim's participation in the audit of state administration, for which a resolution requesting expulsion was passed by the Steering Committee led by the party, citing the actions of former Presidents Yoon Seok-yeol and Chun Doo-hwan as "not a civil war," and demanded that Rep. Kim apologize and resign from the Steering Committee.
In response, the People Power Party countered by saying that Rep. Kim's participation in the National Administration Audit did not constitute grounds for exclusion or avoidance under the National Administration Audit and Investigation Act (National Administration Audit Act).
Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Mi-hwa said, "This is someone who even denies the civil war recognized by the Supreme Court ruling" when Rep. Kim, a member of the steering committee, attended the government inspection this afternoon, and said, "But does it make sense to come in smiling? This is an insult to the National Assembly and an insult to the people."
Rep. Lim Mi-ae of the same party said, "A resolution calling for expulsion was passed at the committee. Coming in and speaking and sitting here is an act of ignoring this," and added, "I hope you resolve this situation quickly. The ruling party members cannot continue the National Assembly inspection in this situation."
In response to this, Rep. Yoon Yong-geun of the People Power Party countered, saying, “Other than exclusion and avoidance regulations, there are no obstacles that can prevent members of the National Assembly from conducting state affairs audits.”
Rep. Kim himself requested an opportunity to make a personal statement, but National Assembly Steering Committee Chairman Han Byeong-do, a member of the Democratic Party, refused. As the battle between the ruling and opposition parties continued over this, the National Assembly audit was adjourned.
Chairman Han said, “We will not allow Rep. Kim to participate in the government audit as if nothing happened (without an apology).”
Representative Kim said to the Democratic Party members after the adjournment, "You work so hard to defend the Blue House. It does not give you the right to make excuses."
To this, Rep. Jeon responded, “I’m going to give up the National Assembly inspection so I can kill Kim Tae-gyu.”
The steering committee later resumed the meeting, but it was canceled again.
Regarding the ruling party's request for an apology, Rep. Kim said, "I think it would be difficult to say definitively," and added, "I am working harder than anyone else to respect and protect the Constitution."
In response, the ruling party protested again, saying, “Is this an apology?” and “Do you want to protect Yoon Seok-yeol and Chun Doo-hwan like that?” In the process, shouts were exchanged between the ruling and opposition parties.
Prior to this, the ruling and opposition parties repeatedly clashed over the submission of data on the government's response to North Korea's landmine provocation in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the progress of the single-stock leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Rep. Kim Ki-woong of the People's Power Party said, "The thief is acting like a thief, so what is your position on that?" Rep. Kim Seong-hoe of the Democratic Party countered, saying, "They are sufficiently demonstrating force by launching hypersonic missiles to chill the public."
Regarding the introduction of a single-stock leveraged ETF, Rep. Choi Eun-seok of the People Power Party requested, "Please allow the playback of the transcript of the meeting chaired by Kim Yong-beom, former head of the Blue House's policy office on January 13," but Democratic Party lawmakers objected, saying, "How can a recording of unknown origin be released in the National Assembly Audit Office?"
Rep. Yoon Yong-geun of the People's Power Party demanded data related to the president's official residence and said, "Submit the data to the public at the same standard that the Democratic Party demanded when it was the opposition party." Rep. Kim Jun-hyung of the Democratic Party of Korea shouted back, saying, "It must never be released because the life and safety of the president and state secrets must be protected."
