As the National Assembly Steering Committee prepares to adopt witnesses for a parliamentary audit, last-minute tug-of-war continues over whether First Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Kim Hyeon-ji will appear. The People Power Party argues that Kim faces various allegations, including meddling in the appointment of the Korea Forest Service chief, and said "she must appear at the audit," while the ruling Democratic Party of Korea counters that "reasonable grounds for her appearance must be presented."
According to political circles on the 28th, the Steering Committee will hold a plenary meeting on the 29th to finalize agency and general witnesses and references for the audit. However, the parties have still not found common ground on whether Kim should appear.
Democratic Party floor spokesperson Baek Seung-a met with reporters after the party's parliamentary audit strategy meeting the same day and said, "If questions about the role as deputy chief of staff do not deviate from the essence of the audit, it would not be a problem, but we have not yet decided to adopt her as a witness out of concern that the opposition will keep using it as political strife."
Democratic Party senior deputy floor leader for operations Moon Jin-seok also said, "There remains the process of listing, exchange, and discussion between the parties regarding witnesses and references," adding, "If reasonable grounds are presented, there is no reason not to call her." The Democratic Party is said to be willing to accept her appearance if questions are limited to duties from her previous time as secretary for general affairs, namely matters related to the presidential office's household management.
The People Power Party, on the other hand, is pressing that Kim must directly explain at the audit regarding allegations including: ▲ overreach in notifying Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo to withdraw ▲ involvement in changing legal counsel related to the case of remittances to North Korea by former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young ▲ interference in the appointment of the Korea Forest Service chief ▲ suspicions over President Lee Jae-myung's fund management.
People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog said at the parliamentary audit strategy meeting that "shedding light on the alleged secret line in the presidential office, which is operated with taxpayers' money, is a constitutional duty of lawmakers and the minimum obligation to the people," emphasizing that "former secretary for general affairs Kim Hyeon-ji must appear at the audit to resolve public suspicion."
People Power Party chief spokesperson Choi Bo-yun also said in a commentary, "As the Steering Committee discussed adopting Deputy Minister Kim Hyeon-ji as a witness, the Democratic Party postponed the meeting itself and mounted an all-out defense like a shield," urging, "Kim must no longer hide. If confident, come to the National Assembly and explain."
With the Steering Committee's plenary meeting set for the 29th, the parties are expected to hold last-minute negotiations on Kim's appearance on the afternoon of the 28th.