The People Power Party poured fierce attacks such as "all roads lead to Hyeon-ji" and "shadow power broker" over the absence of Deputy Minister Kim Hyeon-ji from the National Assembly Steering Committee's audit of the presidential office. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, who appeared at the audit, countered the opposition's offensive, saying, "As chair of the personnel committee, I can say all personnel matters are being carried out transparently and democratically."
The National Assembly Steering Committee on Nov. 6 conducted a parliamentary audit of the Presidential Secretariat, the Office of National Security, and the Presidential Security Service. It was the first audit of the presidential office since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
The People Power Party kept pressing over Director Kim Hyeon-ji's absence. Floor leader Song Eon-seog criticized, "This morning's audit revealed how the Democratic Party has deceived the public with so many tricks and sophistry to block the absolute, inviolable Kim Hyeon-ji from appearing at the audit."
Song, the floor leader, said, "Kim Hyeon-ji, former presidential secretary for general affairs, did not appear at today's audit of the presidential office. The Democratic Party proposed 'morning-only attendance,'" adding, "The actual Q&A time for the morning session is only 53 minutes, less than an hour. Only six lawmakers from both parties combined asked questions." He was pointing out that had Kim attended only in the morning as the Democratic Party proposed, she would have taken questions for just 53 minutes and left.
Song said, "How can leaving after less than an hour of Q&A be called a proper appearance at a parliamentary audit?" He added, "In reality, they even disliked that, and demanded to designate 70 figures from the previous administration's presidential office as witnesses for this audit to water it down."
People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-gwon also said, "When you try to hide (Director Kim) away like this, it raises suspicions that there is something there, which is why talk of 'all roads lead to Hyeon-ji' or a shadow power broker keeps coming up," adding, "Whenever our party brings up Director Kim Hyeon-ji, Democratic Party lawmakers swarm in." "All roads lead to Hyeon-ji" is an expression the People Power Party uses while alleging suspicions about Director Kim, meaning "everything goes through Kim Hyeon-ji." Park said verification is needed, citing allegations related to special activity funds, alleged intervention in the personnel matter of former gender equality and family minister nominee Kang Sun-woo, and alleged intervention in the appointment of Korea Forest Service Commissioner Kim In-ho.
Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik flatly refuted these suspicions. When Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Gi-pyo asked Kang, "What do you think of the point that a particular individual is seen as a power broker in personnel matters?" Kang replied, "I find it very hard to agree."
Kang added, "As chair of the personnel committee, I can say all personnel matters are being carried out transparently and democratically."
Regarding the suspicions raised by the People Power Party about Director Kim, Kang said, "From my standpoint, she is one of 50 secretaries, yet an ordinary secretary is being attacked so much for not attending (the audit), which is frustrating and regrettable," and added, "As for suspicions related to the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance, Seongnam City Council, Seongnam21, or perjury instigation by Lee Hwa-young or Kim Yong, I judge that the previous administration already investigated them sufficiently, and I see them as unrelated to this audit."
Kang added, "If you ask about the special activity funds suspicion or matters related to Kang Sun-woo and the Korea Forest Service commissioner, I will answer."