Lee Jin-sook: "Choi Min-hee's Aide Requested a Wreath"... Choi: "Impossible"

Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee Audit, "Choi Controversy" Until the Last Moment... People Power Party "No Remorse," Repeatedly Urges Resignation

Lee: "Media Checking and Monitoring the Three Branches Must Survive"... Ruling Party: "Someone Who 'Muzzled' the Media"

Chairwoman Choi Min-hee Conducting a Comprehensive Audit (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Young-seok = On October 30, at the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee, Chairwoman Choi Min-hee listens to People Power Party lawmaker Park Jung-hoon's call for her resignation. 2025.10.30 ondol@yna.co.kr

The parliamentary audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee continued to be embroiled in controversy surrounding Committee Chairwoman Choi Min-hee until its final day, the 30th.

Lawmakers from the People Power Party once again urged Chairwoman Choi's resignation on this day. They cited reasons such as holding her child's wedding ceremony at the National Assembly during the audit period, expelling the head of the MBC news division for reporting on matters related to her during the MBC audit, and her committee management style.

Lawmaker Park Jung-hoon stated, "(Chairwoman Choi) shows no remorse despite national condemnation and continues to insist she acted correctly. The so-called progressive media and the vast majority of the public are demanding Chairwoman Choi's resignation."

Lawmaker Lee Sang-hwi emphasized, "The position of committee chair is one that must lead the parliamentary audit strictly, fairly, and equitably, but its status and capabilities have been undermined by personal suspicions. This matter must be resolved ethically, morally, and politically."

He added, "The fundamental intent and purpose of the parliamentary audit itself has been damaged. With what qualification can we question and criticize the heads of the audited organizations? Some are saying the National Assembly is the 'hall of the people's will,' but the Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee is the 'hall of Min-hee.'"

Chairwoman Choi, as she did the previous day, stated, "I will disclose all data related to the People Power Party's issues at the end of the audit. For now, I will continue with the audit."

Furthermore, she continued to reject requests from People Power Party lawmakers for procedural remarks, and for the sake of "efficient auditing," she omitted the swearing-in of witnesses from audited organizations, opening remarks, and business reports.

Chair of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Choi Won-ho Attends Comprehensive Audit (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Young-seok = Choi Won-ho, Chair of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, answers lawmakers' questions at the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee on October 30. 2025.10.30 ondol@yna.co.kr

Meanwhile, Lee Jin-sook, former Chairwoman of the Korea Communications Commission, who appeared as a witness that day, claimed that she received a report from a KCC official during her tenure stating that an aide to Chairwoman Choi had requested a wreath for Choi's child's wedding.

She said, "Knowing my relationship with Chairwoman Choi, I found it personally absurd when that office asked me to send a wreath. They said to send it out of concern that if I didn't, 'they might cut the budget further,' or 'I might face retaliation again.'"

In response, Chairwoman Choi stated, "The Korea Communications Commission officially confirmed that our committee office did not request a wreath. I have never contacted Lee Jin-sook, and our staff cannot request a wreath to be sent. It's an impossible story."

Regarding Lee's reply to the staff member who relayed the wreath request, saying, "Given my relationship with Choi Min-hee, should I send it?", Choi commented, "That's absolutely right. Wouldn't it be the same for both sides?"

Lee also sarcastically commented on Chairwoman Choi's explanation for holding her child's wedding during the audit period, stating it was because she was "studying quantum mechanics and couldn't focus on her daughter's wedding."

When asked about the timing of the report that Choi's aide requested a wreath and who reported it, she replied, "Perhaps because I haven't studied much quantum mechanics, I can't recall it precisely." To the question of whether she was aware that Choi had attempted to withdraw her as a witness, she responded, "Explaining it through quantum mechanics would be absurd."

Regarding Chairwoman Choi's expulsion of the MBC news division head during the audit, Lee expressed anger, stating, "The media that checks and balances the legislative, judicial, and executive branches must survive. Is the head of public broadcasting news under the command of the Science, ICT, and Broadcasting Committee chair?"

In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Jung-ah retorted, "She said the media must survive, but how absurd it is that she herself is someone who used state power to 'muzzle' the media." Yonhap News