Song Eon-seok: "Kim Hyun-ji's Reassignment Was for the Purpose of Evading the National Audit... Kim Byung-ki's Confession"

Kim stated, "The new secretary should appear at the national audit"... Song: "They had the same position, so why is Kim Hyun-ji not allowed?"

On the 19th, Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, argued that when Kim Byung-ki, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "If the (Presidential Office's) Chief Secretary for General Affairs position has changed, it is appropriate for the person who has changed to appear (as a witness in the national audit)," it was tantamount to a confession that the reassignment of Kim Hyun-ji, the head of the secretariat, was to evade attendance at the national audit.

Song made these remarks on Facebook regarding Kim's comments at a press conference that day about the issue of Kim's attendance as a witness in the national audit.

He criticized, "Even if they are the same Chief Secretary for General Affairs, is it that Kim Hyun-ji should not appear, but the new Chief Secretary for General Affairs should?"

People Power Party Floor Leader Song Eon-seok speaking (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Young-seok = People Power Party Floor Leader Song Eon-seok is speaking at a strategic meeting for the national audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th. 2025.10.17 ondol@yna.co.kr

He also stated, "I feel bewildered. I think we need to clarify the facts. From the time Kim was the Chief Secretary for General Affairs, the Democratic Party tried to prevent Secretary Kim from appearing at the national audit."

He said, "On September 24, the list of witnesses for the Presidential Office's national audit, which was an agenda item for the Steering Committee meeting, did not include the Chief Secretary for General Affairs, Kim. When our party's lawmakers demanded that Secretary Kim be summoned as a witness for the national audit, the Democratic Party lawmakers fiercely opposed the summoning of witnesses."

He added, "Ultimately, Kim Byung-ki, the chairman of the Steering Committee, postponed the decision, stating that further consultation was needed between the floor leaders. Five days later, on September 29, Secretary Kim was reassigned to the position of head of the first secretariat."

Song pointed out, "If it is appropriate for the Chief Secretary for General Affairs to appear at the Steering Committee's national audit, then on September 24, the Democratic Party should not have opposed Secretary Kim's attendance." Yonhap News