'Lee Administration's First Parliamentary Audit' Enters Week 2... Heated Clashes Expected Over Insurrection Trial, Kim Hyun-ji, and More

Expected Conflicts in Trade Committee Over 'Nuclear Settlement Controversy' and Political Affairs Committee Over 'Oct. 15 Measures'

People Power Party members protest against Chairperson Choo Mi-ae's management of the meeting during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's parliamentary audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 16. [Yonhap News File Photo]

The National Assembly enters the second week of the Lee Jae-myung administration's first parliamentary audit on the 20th.

On this day, audits will be conducted across 13 standing committees, including Legislation and Judiciary, Political Affairs, Strategy and Finance, Education, Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications, Foreign Affairs and Unification, National Defense, Public Administration and Security, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries, Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups, Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee, considered the biggest battlefield, will hold audits of 17 courts, including the Seoul High Court, Suwon High Court, and Seoul Central District Court.

The ruling Democratic Party is expected to launch an offensive against the Central District Court, which is overseeing the insurrection trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, by highlighting allegations of "hostess bar entertainment" involving presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon. The People Power Party plans to actively check the Democratic Party's push for judicial reform by raising the issue of the ruling party's "infringement on judicial independence."

In the audit of seven agencies including the Korea Forest Service by the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to clash over allegations that Kim Hyun-ji, First Secretary to the President, intervened in the appointment of Korea Forest Service Commissioner Kim In-ho.

At the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee’s audit of energy and resource public institutions such as KEPCO and KHNP, a battle of nerves is expected over the intellectual property agreement between KEPCO/KHNP and the U.S. company Westinghouse.

The ruling party is expected to claim it was a "humiliating agreement by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," while the opposition will likely counter that it was "the best possible choice considering national interest."

In the Political Affairs Committee’s audit of the Financial Services Commission and others, intense debate is expected between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the effectiveness of the "Oct. 15 Real Estate Measures," which focus on financial regulations to curb gap investments.

Additionally, the Strategy and Finance Committee will audit the Bank of Korea; the Education Committee will audit the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon Offices of Education; the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee will audit seven overseas missions including the Embassy in China; the National Defense Committee will audit the Military Manpower Administration; and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will audit the Korea Tourism Organization and Korea National University of Arts. Yonhap News