The People Power Party is ramping up its offensive against Kim Hyeon-ji, the first deputy secretary to the president and a closest aide to President Lee Jae-myung. The party says it will summon Kim to the National Assembly's audit and inspection to vet various allegations. However, with the Democratic Party of Korea mounting a full defense against the People Power Party's offensive, it appears unlikely that Kim will actually be called to the audit venue.
On the 16th, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo raised a suspicion that Kim received a report on the case from the attorney of Lee Hwa-young, former Gyeonggi Province vice governor for peace, who is implicated in the North Korea remittance case. The day before, Joo raised a separate suspicion that Kim was also involved in the case of Kim Yong, former vice president of the Institute for Democracy, who is accused in the Daejang-dong development favoritism corruption scandal.
People Power Party members on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are demanding day after day that Kim appear as a witness, citing her involvement in cases related to President Lee. As Joo alleged that Kim intervened in the cases of Lee, the former vice governor who is close to the president, and Kim, the former vice president, and asserted subornation of perjury and evidence fabrication, People Power Party lawmakers responded in support.
The People Power Party is demanding Kim's appearance as a witness not only in the Steering Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, but also in the Strategy and Finance Committee, the Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee, the Agriculture. Food. Rural Affairs. Oceans. and Fisheries Committee, and the Public Administration and Security Committee. The National Assembly standing committee that handles the presidential office Kim belongs to is the Steering Committee. The issue of Kim's witness appearance initially surfaced in the Steering Committee, but as signs emerged that the Democratic Party of Korea would block her appearance at the steering audit, other standing committees also began pushing to have Kim appear.
The opposition plans to question Kim's ownership of an apartment in Daejang-dong at the Strategy and Finance Committee and her alleged involvement in the development of the Baekhyeon-dong retaining-wall apartment at the Land Committee. In the Public Administration and Security Committee, some argued that Kim should be called to vet senior civil servant appointments and asset disclosures. Opposition members on the agriculture and fisheries panel suggested they need to examine the relationship between newly appointed Korea Forest Service Commissioner Kim In-ho and Kim.
The Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee did not adopt witnesses, but it repeatedly broke down due to political strife over Kim. This came as opposition member Park Jeong-hoon of the People Power Party raised the "Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance consolidation theory" in connection with Kim. On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Woo-young disclosed a profanity-laden text message containing Park's personal phone number, and Park argued, "They dragged out something from a month ago because I attacked Kim."
Although the People Power Party is launching a full-scale offensive targeting Kim, it appears difficult to break through the ruling party's all-out defense. The Steering Committee postponed a plenary meeting slated for 15th to coordinate audit witnesses. It is known that the People Power Party proposed allowing her to appear only at the Steering Committee, but unless the Democratic Party of Korea, which holds an overwhelming majority, accepts it, summoning Kim to the National Assembly is effectively impossible.
The Democratic Party of Korea says the People Power Party is turning Kim's audit appearance into a political fight. In particular, it argues that she has no obligation to appear since she is not the secretary for general affairs but the first deputy secretary. On 15th, Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Byeong-ju said on YTN Radio, "Why is the People Power Party so obsessed with Kim?" and added, "So far, a deputy secretary has never appeared before the Steering Committee."
The People Power Party criticizes the presidential office for carrying out a face-saving personnel move as Kim's audit appearance loomed. In particular, as controversy over Kim continued, calls for her to appear have grown louder.
Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok said, "Today's audit at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee was paralyzed and did not even begin a single question in the morning. After lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon's press conference regarding 'Madam Kim Hyeon-ji,' confrontation between lawmaker Kim Woo-young and Park over another matter escalated and remains unresolved," adding, "I have never even met her and do not know what kind of person the madam is, but madam, please, just come to the National Assembly."