Round 2 of Parliamentary Audit Marred by 'Kim Hyun-ji Clash'..."Ties to Forest Service Chief" vs. "Politicizing the Audit Again"

Shouting Match at Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee Audit... People Power Party Cites "Public Suspicion," Democratic Party Calls it "Targeting the Wrong Person"

Forest Service Chief Kim In-ho submits his oath (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-sung = Forest Service Chief Kim In-ho submits his oath to Committee Chairman Eo Gi-gu of the Democratic Party of Korea after swearing in as a witness during the parliamentary audit of the Korea Forest Service held by the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee on the 20th. 2025.10.20 utzza@yna.co.kr

On the 20th, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate at the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee audit over whether to summon Kim Hyun-ji, Secretary to the President for Annex Office, as a witness.

The People Power Party (PPP) raised allegations once again that Forest Service Chief Kim In-ho was appointed due to past ties with Secretary Kim, arguing that she must be called as a witness. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) countered by criticizing the move as an attempt to turn the parliamentary audit into a political brawl.

During a procedural motion, PPP Representative Lee Man-hee stated, "We requested (Secretary Kim) as a witness to question whether the personnel issues regarding Chief Kim and the various facts revealed so far were handled appropriately, but regrettably, there has been no response," adding, "It is a matter for which we naturally have an obligation to address public suspicion."

Fellow party member Rep. Kang Myung-gu argued, "It is becoming an established fact that Secretary Kim is the real power in the Lee Jae-myung administration," and asserted, "Since allegations of overstepping authority have been raised under the Lee Jae-myung government, Secretary Kim should appear at the comprehensive audit."

In response, DPK Representative Joo Cheol-hyun rebutted, "The People Power Party members have been persistently demanding Secretary Kim's appearance since the first day of the audit, turning the proceedings into a political fight," and added, "Instead of disrupting the audit by targeting the wrong person, you should rather ask President Lee Jae-myung directly why he appointed people who are well-known figures."

Rep. Moon Keum-joo also urged, "If we are going to argue that way, what would you say if we claimed that people with ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol or those who played roles in his presidential campaign received various preferential treatment in personnel appointments?" She added, "We are wasting too much time. I hope we can avoid such unproductive political strife."

When PPP lawmakers protested, saying, "How can you say such things?" during Rep. Moon's remarks, DPK lawmakers hit back, asking, "Why are you interrupting the questioning?" leading to a brief shouting match. Yonhap News