Conflict between ruling and opposition parties over adoption of National Assembly audit witnesses intensifies
The selection of witnesses for the National Assembly audit has become more contentious amid clashes between the ruling and opposition parties, with disputes intensifying over the attendance of key figures Take a look at the key issues by standing committee and the confirmed witnesses at a glance, and follow the flow of the audit
Ahead of the National Assembly audit of the administration, the ruling and opposition parties are clashing in each standing committee over the selection of key witnesses. The People Power Party demanded that people involved in allegations related to Kim Hyunji, the Presidential Office's First Senior Secretary for Protocol, former Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seungwon be called as witnesses, but the Democratic Party is blocking most of them.
On the other hand, the Democratic Party pushed through the selection of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae as a witness. The reason is to examine the circumstances behind the refusal to request a resubmission of the Supreme Court justice nominee. The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the ruling party, approved Cho's witness selection, and the opposition protested that there is no constitutional basis for it.
At the Health and Welfare Committee, the selection of witnesses related to allegations of lobbying for COVID19 new drugs fell through, and at the Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee and the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, negotiations broke down over demands for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jaeyong and SK Group Chairman Chey Taewon to appear. Meanwhile, at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, it was confirmed that singer Park Jinyoung, who serves as a cochair of a presidential committee, will appear at the National Assembly audit.