Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential office's first deputy secretary, is becoming the main figure of the Lee Jae-myung administration's first parliamentary audit. On the third day of the audit, Kim's name is being called across committees.
The National Assembly's Steering Committee had planned to convene a full session that day to discuss summoning Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji as a witness for the audit, but the meeting was postponed. Floor leader Song Eon-seok of the People Power Party said on KBS radio that day, "I think they unilaterally postponed the date because they are afraid that the many problematic acts and remarks by former secretary (deputy minister) Kim Hyun-ji will become an issue again," adding, "Former secretary Kim Hyun-ji must appear at the audit and, in her own voice, clearly reveal the truth to the public; that is a duty owed to the people."
Although the Steering Committee's full session did not open, Kim's name was raised across the audit that day. At the parliamentary audit of the Supreme Court by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the People Power Party demanded that Kim be called as a witness. This came after testimony at the Ministry of Justice audit the previous day that Kim was connected to the change of defense counsel for former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, prompting a demand to verify the claim by summoning her. However, the committee, led by the Democratic Party, did not accept calling Kim as a witness.
Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party protested, saying, "The two I requested yesterday—Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential office's first deputy secretary, and attorney Seol Ju-wan—are left out," and asked, "Where else do they run it so one-sidedly?" Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party also said, "Kim can be called as a witness by the committee, as the questions are not about deputy secretary duties," adding, "What's interesting is that as soon as Kim is mentioned, it's like they hit a sudden-acceleration button. They must clearly and unmistakably reveal the truth about why they tried to overturn Lee Hwa-young's testimony."
Kim also became a focal point at the parliamentary audit by the Public Administration and Security Committee. At the audit held that day of the Ministry of Personnel Management, the National Election Commission, and the National Fire Agency, Rep. Ko Dong-jin of the People Power Party urged disclosure of Kim's assets. Ko said, "I asked the Ministry of Personnel Management to submit the registered asset details Kim filed when serving as a National Assembly aide, but the ministry is refusing to submit the materials, saying they fall under nondisclosure under the Public Service Ethics Act."
Ko said, "As claims have been raised that there is a very large gap between the size of the assets registered when Kim was an aide and the size now disclosed, we must clarify the facts by checking the records," adding, "It is downright contempt for the National Assembly's oversight authority for the Ministry of Personnel Management, which oversees the public officials' asset registration system, to refuse even to submit materials just because she is close to the president."
In response, Ministry of Personnel Management Commissioner Choi Dong-seok said, "We must of course comply with material requests under the Act on Testimony and Appraisal by the National Assembly, but we strictly regulate the disclosure of asset registration details of those classified as nondisclosure subjects under the Public Service Ethics Act to protect personal privacy."
Kim also figured in the Oceans and Fisheries Ministry audit by the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee. People Power Party lawmakers raised suspicions that Kim was involved in personnel decisions for Lee Young-ho, former presidential office maritime affairs and fisheries secretary. At the Agriculture Ministry audit the previous day, Rep. Kim Jang-kyom of the People Power Party also raised suspicions that Kim was involved in the personnel decision for Korea Forest Service Commissioner Kim In-ho.
Rep. Lee Man-hee of the People Power Party held a press conference that day and said, "When President Lee Jae-myung was serving as Seongnam mayor, there was a civic group called Seongnam Agenda 21. Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji was then the secretary-general, and Korea Forest Service Commissioner Kim In-ho served as an adviser, among other roles, and they were active during roughly the same seven-year period," adding, "There is a need to examine the fact that Deputy Minister Kim, a grade-1 public official, is exerting great influence across all areas of state affairs based on her close ties with the president."
The ruling Democratic Party pushed back at the People Power Party for demanding Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji's appearance at the audit, calling it "baseless political attacks." Jeon Hyun-hee, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, said on MBC radio that day, regarding the controversy over the change of attorney for former vice governor Lee Hwa-young, "The facts have not been verified. It's a one-sided claim."
Jeon said, "Even if, for the sake of argument, that were true, I cannot see what would be the problem with a third party offering an opinion in the process of retaining counsel," adding, "They want to bring the deputy secretary to the audit room and, without any basis, take potshots at President Lee and the presidential office."
Kim Byung-joo, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, also addressed suspicions on YTN radio that Kim was linked to a pro-North group, saying, "Because it's awkward to target President Lee directly, they are targeting the deputy secretary instead, which is a textbook example of a very bad tactic. It's a political attack without solid grounds," and asked, "Why is the People Power Party so obsessed with the deputy secretary?"