The National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit on the morning of the 29th was effectively a hearing centered on Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea. People Power Party members of the committee stuck placards reading "Call for resignation" on their laptops and repeatedly pressed the heads of audited agencies on whether they had received wedding invitations or given congratulatory money for the Chairperson's daughter's wedding.
Chairperson Choi was mired in various controversies during the audit period. On the 18th, it became known that floral wreaths and congratulatory money had been received from audited agencies and corporations at her daughter's wedding held at Sarangjae, sparking controversy, and on the 26th, a scene of her texting a direction on the National Assembly floor to her Chief of Staff to return the congratulatory money was captured by media cameras, fueling criticism.
That day, Chairperson Choi gave a brief statement, saying, "There have been various issues raised, but today is a confirmation audit, so we will proceed with the audit," and "After the audit concludes, I will verify the facts and make everything public." She also appeared to wipe away tears during her remarks.
When the audit began, People Power Party lawmakers hung placards with phrases such as "Step down, standing committee chair for direct intervention in media coverage" and "Step down, standing committee chair for false explanation about daughter's wedding," and demanded procedural statements. Chairperson Choi refused, saying, "This is a comprehensive audit, so make personal statements during your individual time."
Lee Sang-hwi of the People Power Party checked one by one whether the heads of audited agencies had received wedding invitations and whether they had delivered congratulatory money. Most said, "We did not receive invitations and did not give congratulatory money," but Kim Young-sik, chair of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), said, "I did not personally receive anything, but it is possible that a staffer received it." Gwak Byung-jin, acting head of Korea Post, avoided a clear answer and nodded, while Lee Sang-cheol, president of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), drew a line, saying, "I did not personally contribute."
KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung did not answer, while Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) President Lim Ki-chul and Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation Institute President Hong Jin-bae said, "We received mobile wedding invitations through the presidential secretariat." Hong added, "I did not give congratulatory money."
Earlier, Kim Jang-kyom of the People Power Party also pressed the first and second vice ministers of the Ministry of Science and ICT on whether the congratulatory money had been retrieved. First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-jae said, "It was not returned, and I paid it in accordance with the relevant legal standards," while Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung explained, "I am acquainted with another host, not Chairperson Choi, and I gave it personally due to a personal connection."