The National Policy Committee decided to file a complaint against Chair Kim Beom-suk of Coupang Inc. for violating the National Assembly testimony and appraisal law after repeatedly failing to appear at a parliamentary audit. The ruling and opposition parties plan to raise the level of response by pushing effective sanctions such as a parliamentary investigation and "entry ban" legislation.
The National Policy Committee held a full session on the 17th and voted to file a complaint against Kim. National Policy Committee Chair Yoon Han-hong said, "Witness Kim Beom-suk failed to appear at our committee's parliamentary audit twice, on Oct. 14 and 28, without just cause," and added, "There being no objection, I declare it passed."
Kang Min-guk, a People Power Party lawmaker and the opposition secretary of the National Policy Committee, said, "Witness Kim Beom-suk undermined the National Assembly's functions granted by the sovereign people," and added, "Since Coupang is headquartered in the United States, if necessary, we should secure materials by sending official letters to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or the stock exchange." He went on to say, "People like this should be banned from entering Korea."
Following the National Policy Committee, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly also plans to file a complaint against Kim. Democratic Party lawmakers on the committee issued a statement on the 15th saying, "We will review and pursue legal action, including filing a complaint."
In particular, the Democratic Party plans to push for a parliamentary investigation. It is known that a key consideration was that, in a parliamentary investigation, a warrant to accompany a witness can be issued, allowing for a practical compulsion to appear.
Legislation to sanction witnesses who fail to appear before the National Assembly is also set to be pursued. On the 16th, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi introduced a bill to amend the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act and a partial amendment to the Immigration Act to allow entry restrictions when a foreigner fails to appear at a plenary session or a standing committee of the National Assembly without just cause. The amendments would allow the National Assembly, by resolution, to request the Minister of Justice to impose an entry ban, require the Minister of Justice to act immediately, and have the results reported to the National Assembly.