The Independence Hall of Korea board of directors passed a motion on the 19th to dismiss Director Kim Hyeong-seok.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 13th disclosed 14 violations by Kim, including privatizing the Independence Hall of Korea, and recommended his dismissal.
Earlier, as a result of a special audit of the Independence Hall of Korea conducted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) from September to October last year, 14 violations by Kim were revealed, including allowing Christian worship to be held free of charge in Independence Hall facilities and using business promotion expenses on holidays to meet private acquaintances. Kim requested a retrial, saying he was not familiar with the relevant procedures, but the MPVA dismissed it and the audit results were finalized. Based on this, six board members, including Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Kim Yong-man, Moon Jin-seok, and Song Ok-joo, requested that the board be convened to dismiss Kim.
On this day, 13 of the 15 registered members attended the board meeting, excluding lawmaker Bae Jun-young of the People Power Party and Director Park I-taek. Of the 12 excluding Kim, 10 voted in favor, and the motion to recommend dismissal passed.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs plans to recommend to President Lee Jae-myung that Kim be dismissed based on the motion passed this time.
In response, Kim said at a press briefing after the board meeting, "The MPVA audit that formed the basis for the dismissal resolution was improperly conducted for the purpose of dismissing the director of the Independence Hall of Korea, regardless of substantive facts," and "I cannot agree with the contents of the audit report."