On 14th, shouts and profanity flew at the National Assembly Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee's national audit venue. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Woo-young disclosed a text message that included People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon's phone number. The message to Kim from Park included the line, "Sigh, you pathetic punk!" and Kim was previously reported to have grabbed Park by the collar. YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won), who appeared that day, looked startled by the sudden situation.

On the 14th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, lawmakers from both parties exchange heated words during questioning by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Woo-young about People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon's text message disclosure at the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee hearing on the Broadcasting and Communications Commission./Courtesy of News1

There is a growing reaction of disappointment with the first national audit of the Lee Jae-myung administration. In several standing committees, political infighting bordering on disgrace is being highlighted instead of scrutinizing the government's policy execution. Related reports even drew reactions such as "political backwater," "the level of lawmakers is utterly pathetic," and "lawmakers' salaries are a waste."

In the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee, clashes between ruling and opposition lawmakers escalated to the extreme. When his request for a personal statement was not accepted, lawmaker Park lashed out at lawmaker Kim, calling him "you pathetic XX." Kim stood up to rush at Park, but a physical clash did not occur thanks to other lawmakers' restraint. Committee Chair Choi Min-hee ordered Park to leave, but Park did not comply, and the situation then wrapped up.

Independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin raises a hand sign while questioning Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae during the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's hearing on the Supreme Court at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 13th./Courtesy of News1

The place where the most exchanges of barbs between ruling and opposition lawmakers occurred during the audit was the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The committee also erupted in a commotion during the on-site Supreme Court audit on 15th. Chairperson Choo Mi-ae put to a vote and passed a measure to require submission of documents related to the Supreme Court en banc decision in President Lee Jae-myung's election law violation case. People Power Party lawmakers protested in front of Chairperson Choo, saying, "Does this make any sense?" while Democratic Party lawmakers countered, "Do not disrupt the meeting."

On 13th, the first day of the audit attended by Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee drew fire over a doctored image labeled "Jo Yotomi Hee-dae Yoshi" (a portmanteau of Cho Hee-dae and Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi). Independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin displayed the composite image during questioning time, but criticism poured in that it was excessive. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Keum Tae-seop assessed the image as "this scene is the most vulgar and ugly."

People Power Party members of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee protest to Chairperson Chu Mi-ae on the 15th at a plenary meeting held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, claiming that handling the 'request for submission of documents related to the Supreme Court full bench regarding President Lee Jae-myung's violation of the Public Official Election Act case' amounts to judicial interference./Courtesy of Yonhap News

The previous day also saw a "banmal war of words." It was between Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won, 83, and People Power Party lawmaker Shin Dong-uk, 60. During questioning, Park shouted "Be quiet" at People Power Party Legislation and Judiciary Committee members who cut in. Shin responded, "Does your advanced age allow you to speak informally? Please use honorifics," and Park said, "I've spoken down to you since long ago."

In the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over adopting as a witness a former executive of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who had a Supreme Court conviction finalized on espionage charges. In particular, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang said, "We must reveal what anti-state activities the KCTU chairperson engaged in within the organization," prompting Democratic Party lawmaker Park Hae-cheol and The Progressive Party lawmaker Jeong Hye-kyung to demand a retraction and apology, and shouts ensued.

Public disappointment with the national audit is growing. In a Korea Gallup survey of 1,005 voters nationwide from Oct. 29–31 last year asking whether the national audit produced results, only 22% said "there were results." In contrast, 51% said "there were no results," exceeding half of all respondents. At the time, Korea Gallup assessed, "It can be seen that interest in or expectations for the national audit each year are not very high." Details can be found on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.

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