The Democratic Party of Korea on the 17th criticized the appearance of Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji, first executive office chief at the presidential office, at the National Assembly audit, saying, "It is not the presidential office, not Deputy Minister Kim, and not the Democratic Party of Korea that is blocking Kim's attendance, but the People Power Party itself."

The Democratic Party of Korea criticizes that "it is the People Power Party that is preventing Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji from attending the National Assembly inspection." On Sept. 24, Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), and Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, sit at a plenary meeting of the Assembly Steering Committee. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

Park Su-hyeon, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, met with reporters at the National Assembly after the supreme council meeting that day and said, "While the ruling and opposition parties were originally negotiating over Deputy Minister Kim's appearance at the Steering Committee's audit, People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok suddenly demanded appearances before six standing committees," adding, "The moment they demanded appearances at six standing committees, the deal was broken."

He went on to note that this was "a political offensive intended to throw out a card that the Democratic Party cannot possibly accept, so that if the Democratic Party does not take it, they can create a frame that the Democratic Party and the presidential office are trying to hide 'Dignity Hyun-ji.'"

Senior spokesperson Park said, "Did you calculate that it would be far more profitable to prevent Deputy Minister Kim from actually appearing at the audit and then wage a political offensive?" and requested, "The People Power Party should stop the 'stalking audit' and comply with the public mandate to conduct a 'people's livelihood audit.'"

The Democratic Party plans to hold a full meeting of the Steering Committee on the 29th to discuss and vote on the appearance of audit witnesses and reference persons, including Deputy Minister Kim. It is known that the Democratic Party is consulting with the opposition party on a position that would allow attendance only at the Steering Committee and, if questions are limited to Deputy Minister Kim's original duties as general affairs related to the presidential office's household budget, it could comply.

Earlier, the Steering Committee held a meeting on the 15th to discuss the adoption of audit witnesses, but it was postponed.

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