The Background of 'Criticizing Choi Jae-hyung' Ultimately Lies in 'Wolseong Unit 1'... Conflict Between Blue House and Board of Audit Surfaces

Audit Committee Operating with 6 Members for 4 Months... 청 Pressures 'Nominate Kim Osu,' Choi Jaehyung Refuses
Audit Board Act Specifies 'Majority Approval of Present Members,' 3vs3 Tie Means 'Rejection'... Vacant Member Holds 'Casting Vote'
청 Warns "Appointment Authority Lies with President"... Controversy Over 'Audit Board Neutrality Undermined' Expands

Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, is speaking at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 27th. 2020.7.27 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] The ruling party's fierce attack on Choi Jae-hyung, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), is closely related to the audit of the 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.' The announcement of the audit results, which will determine whether the early shutdown decision was justified, has been delayed for months. Meanwhile, the personnel conflict between the Blue House and the BAI over the appointment of vacant audit committee members has surfaced.

On the 29th, a senior Blue House official told reporters, "We clearly state that the appointment authority of audit committee members lies with the president." This remark came during the confirmation process of reports that the Blue House tried to appoint former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Oh-soo as an audit committee member, but Choi rejected it citing 'political bias.' Although the official did not comment on whether Kim's appointment was being pursued, the general view is that this statement serves as a 'warning' to Choi.

According to the Board of Audit and Inspection Act, the highest decision-making body of the BAI, the Audit Committee, is composed of 'seven' members including the BAI head (chairperson). Since former audit committee member Lee Joon-ho retired in April, no successor has been appointed, maintaining a six-member structure for four months. There have been attempts to appoint new members. Choi reportedly recommended a judicial figure, but the Blue House did not accept the nomination.

Audit committee members are appointed by the president upon the head's recommendation. The Blue House pressured for the nomination of former Deputy Minister Kim, but Choi refused and recommended others, leading to a stalemate and the vacancy persisting for months.

The importance of appointing the last audit committee member lies in the resolution of the audit results for 'Wolseong Unit 1.' The BAI held an audit committee meeting in April to submit and decide on this agenda but ultimately postponed the conclusion. According to the BAI Act, decisions require the approval of the majority of the audit committee members present. If the opinions of the six members, including the head, are split 3-3, the motion fails. With the announcement of the audit results becoming increasingly urgent, the last 'casting vote' has become crucial as a six-member committee cannot reach a conclusion.

When asked why the audit committee seat has been vacant for over four months despite the appointment authority resting with the president, a senior Blue House official said, "That is a matter to be inquired with the BAI," adding, "We do not know the internal circumstances of the BAI precisely." This appears to refer to Choi's refusal to recommend nominees as 'internal circumstances.'

However, amid suspicions that the Blue House tried to appoint a controversial figure accused of bias as an audit committee member and intervened in audit results related to government tasks, the controversy over the 'independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection' is unlikely to subside easily.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.