The National Policy Committee of the National Assembly will summon a large number of heads of major conglomerates as witnesses for this year's parliamentary audit. Personal data leaks, unfair practices by online platforms, undue support among affiliates, and alleged money laundering are expected to be key areas of scrutiny.
On the 29th, the committee held a full meeting and approved a motion to summon 32 witnesses, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Coupang Chairman Kim Beom-suk, and MBK Partners Chairman Kim Byung-ju, and nine reference persons, for a total of 41.
The committee's audit schedule will begin on the 14th of next month with the Personal Information Protection Commission and the Fair Trade Commission, followed by the Financial Services Commission on the 20th, the Financial Supervisory Service on the 21st, and a comprehensive (non-financial) session on the 28th.
On the first day, the audit of the Personal Information Protection Commission and the Fair Trade Commission will focus on large-scale personal data leaks and unfair practices by online platforms. In connection with hacking incidents, KT CEO Kim Young-seop, Lotte Card CEO Cho Joa-jin, and MBK Chairman Kim Byung-ju were selected as witnesses. Regarding the Homeplus case, CEO Kim Kwang-il, Co-CEO Cho Joo-yeon, and MBK Vice Chairman Yoon Jong-ha are also set to appear at the audit.
Regarding alleged unfair transactions on online platforms, Coupang Chairman Kim Beom-suk and Coupang Eats CEO Kim Myung-kyu were included on the witness list. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jung Hyun-ho is expected to be questioned about the Samsung Welstory undue support case, while Woowa Brothers CEO Kim Beom-seok and Google Vice President Hwang Sung-hye are likely to face questions over alleged unfair practices such as in-app payments.
At the audit of the Financial Services Commission, violations of anti-money laundering obligations and the oversight of virtual asset exchanges will come under scrutiny. Dunamu's Upbit CEO Oh Kyung-seok will appear as a witness, and National Pension Service Fund Management Headquarters head Seo Won-ju was included on the witness list regarding insufficient implementation of the stewardship code and controversy over rushed listings.
At the Oct. 21 audit of the Financial Supervisory Service, National Credit Union Federation of Korea Chairman Kim Yoon-seok, Saemaul Geumgo Chairman Kim In, and Meritz Vice Chairman Kim Yong-beom will be summoned over issues of internal controls and regulatory blind spots in the financial sector.
At the comprehensive (non-financial) audit on the 28th, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is set to take the stand over allegations of undue support among affiliates; HYUNDAI WIA CEO Kwon O-sung over alleged supplier price squeezing; and CJ Olive Young CEO Lee Sun-jung over controversy regarding store-specific sales quotas and pressure on employees to make purchases.
The committee also selected as reference persons Byung-guk, representative of Homeplus tenant merchants; Lee Ui-hwan, head of the countermeasure committee for victims of Homeplus commercial paper; and Kim Heung-kwang, head of NK Intellectuals Solidarity, among victims and civic group figures.
Yoon Han-hong, the National Policy Committee chair from the People Power Party, said, "Regarding witnesses and reference persons for the audit, have the (ruling and opposition) secretaries discuss further if anything more is needed," adding, "If there is agreement, we will hold another vote, and if not, we will allow it even during the audit period."