Kim Hyun-ji, Chief of Staff, attends the Cabinet meeting. Yonhap News. 

Yonhap News reported on the 6th that Kim Hyun-ji, the First Deputy Secretary to the President, was instructed to remain on standby within the presidential office premises (Yongsan Presidential Office). 

According to the report, Lee Jae-myung instructed Chief of Staff Kim Hyun-ji to await instructions on standby within the premises so that she could attend the parliamentary inspection of the state administration by the National Assembly Steering Committee at any time.

The Presidential Office stated that Kim was originally scheduled to accompany President Lee on his inspection of wildfire countermeasures in Gangwon Province that day, but did not go to the site due to this instruction.

The Presidential Office explained, "This instruction was given out of respect for the National Assembly," adding, "Our stance remains unchanged that if the National Assembly decides (to summon Ms. Kim as a witness), she will appear before the standing committee," Yonhap News reported. 

Consequently, it is anticipated that Ms. Kim may appear before the standing committee as early as later this afternoon, should the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement.

Up until now, Kim Hyun-ji had not voluntarily appeared before the National Assembly, despite consistent demands from the opposition party to summon her as a witness for the parliamentary inspection.

Editorial Department