The first parliamentary audit of the presidential office since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration is being derailed by a "back throw" between ruling and opposition lawmakers. A tug-of-war over whether Presidential Office First Private Secretary Kim Hyun-ji would appear continued even before the start and escalated into a physical clash.
The National Assembly's House Steering Committee on the 6th in the morning held a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly of the Presidential Secretariat, the Office of National Security, and the Presidential Security Service. It drew attention as the first audit of the presidential office since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, Office of National Security Director Wi Sung-lac, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho attended.
The People Power Party demanded the attendance of Deputy Minister Kim Hyun-ji. The party moved to vet allegations that Kim was involved with several figures in the Lee Jae-myung administration and trials related to the president. It highlighted the so-called "Mansahyeontong" issue.
People Power Party lawmaker Park Su-min requested submission of Kim's personnel record card, saying, "I do not know this person, but because she holds a public post, we need to vet her career."
The Democratic Party countered that Kim has no obligation to attend and said the People Power Party is mounting a political offensive. It also took issue with People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who served as legal secretary at the Presidential Office under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, taking part in the steering committee.
Democratic Party lawmaker Chae Hyun-il said, "Today's audit targets include five months of the Lee Jae-myung Presidential Office, but what must be thoroughly audited is the three years of the Yoon Suk-yeol Presidential Office that incited an insurrection. It is highly likely to be a conflict of interest that lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who served as legal secretary to the former president Yoon, is here," adding, "The seat where lawmaker Joo should be sitting is the witness stand of the audited agency."
People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo responded, "I strongly protest the Democratic Party's organized attempt to 'gag' because I am focusing on raising allegations related to First Private Secretary Kim Hyun-ji," adding, "I participated in last year's audit as a steering committee member. A lawmaker who was a defense attorney for President Lee Jae-myung also served on the steering committee. Where does this talk of conflict of interest even apply?"
As ruling and opposition lawmakers raised their voices and clashed during Joo's remarks, National Assembly House Steering Committee Chair Kim Byung-kee declared a recess. Not even an hour had passed since the audit began.
Immediately after the audit was recessed, People Power Party Floor Leader Song Eon-seog and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Gi-heon bumped into each other with a "back throw" while leaving the meeting room, and the clash escalated into a scuffle. Floor Leader Song held an emergency press conference, saying, "Lawmaker Lee Gi-heon approached with a hefty build and rammed into me," adding, "Since the National Assembly Advancement Act, physical contact has been banned, yet a violent act occurred in broad daylight."
Song added, "Lawmaker Lee should immediately apologize for the violent incident, and Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-kee should present measures to prevent a recurrence."
In response, lawmaker Lee Gi-heon countered, "It was Floor Leader Song Eon-seog who threw his body," adding, "I denounce being called a thug when I am the victim."