"Reflecting on Role for Korea" Resigned Choi Jae-hyung Clashes with Ruling Party Starting with Audit on Early Nuclear Plant Shutdown

Leaves room to "discuss gradually" on presidential run
Accepted Audit Commissioner position at the end of 2017
Rift with ruling party during 'Wolseong Nuclear Plant Early Closure Feasibility Audit'
Blue House: "Term guarantee is for political neutrality"
"Commissioner Choi sets an undesirable precedent"

On the afternoon of the 28th, Choi Jae-hyung, the Auditor General who announced his resignation, is leaving the Board of Audit and Inspection while being seen off by employees. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The sudden resignation of Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), with six months left in his term has caused a stir in the political sphere. The ruling party criticized Chairman Choi, claiming that he is "breaking political neutrality and attempting to run for the presidency." In response, Chairman Choi avoided giving a direct answer but left room for interpretation by saying, "(Regarding the presidential election) I will be able to speak about it gradually."

If Chairman Choi officially declares his candidacy as an opposition presidential candidate in the future, he is expected to become the first BAI chairman to resign before completing his term to enter politics. Previously, Chairman Choi took office in 2017 when the Moon Jae-in administration began, but cracks appeared as he clashed with the ruling party during the audit process related to the early shutdown of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant.

On the morning of the 28th, Chairman Choi met with reporters in front of the BAI in Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "I thought it was inappropriate to continue performing my duties, so I tendered my resignation to the President," and added, "I feel sorry to the public and the members of the BAI for not being able to complete my term." Chairman Choi's term was set to end on January 1, 2022.

Regarding whether he will run for president, he distanced himself by saying, "This is not the place to talk about that," but left room by adding, "There will be opportunities to speak about it gradually."

He also added, "I will take time to contemplate what role I should play for the future of the Republic of Korea."

Song Young-gil, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party of Korea immediately criticized Chairman Choi. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, met with reporters before the Gyeongbuk Budget Policy Council held at Gumi City Hall in the afternoon and said, "The BAI requires political independence more than any other national organization," and criticized, "It is against the purpose of the BAI Act for a sitting chairman to resign mid-term and run for the presidency, especially as an opposition candidate, which anyone can see."

President Moon Jae-in also expressed strong displeasure upon accepting Chairman Choi's resignation. Park Kyung-mi, Blue House spokesperson, said at a briefing at the Chuncheon Press Center in the afternoon, "President Moon accepted Chairman Choi's resignation around 5:50 p.m. and approved the BAI chairman's resignation," and added, "(President Moon) expressed regret and disappointment, stating that the guarantee of the chairman's term is to maintain political neutrality, and Chairman Choi set an undesirable precedent."

Chairman Choi was nominated at the end of 2017 when the Moon administration began and was appointed on January 2 of the following year. At that time, the Blue House praised Chairman Choi as "a legal professional who has worked to protect the rights of socially vulnerable and minority groups" and said, "There are many good stories about him."

A local resident is passing by in Yangnam-myeon, Gyeongju-si, with the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 in view. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, Chairman Choi clashed with the ruling party during the audit process on the validity of the early shutdown decision of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant.

Last October, the BAI released the final report on the "Audit of the validity of the early shutdown decision of Wolseong Unit 1," revealing that the 'economic feasibility,' which was the basis for the shutdown decision, was unreasonably undervalued. The ruling party criticized, "The BAI attempted excessive resolutions by holding audit committee meetings for three consecutive days just before the general election," and added, "There were also disclosures of coercive audits, as audit contents were reported in conservative media."

Im Jong-seok, former Blue House Chief of Staff, criticized Chairman Choi on his Facebook post in January, saying, "He is crossing the line," and "He was guaranteed his term to work with conviction without worrying about power, but he is boldly engaging in politics using his term as a shield."

He continued, "The same smell is now coming from Jeon Gwang-hoon, Yoon Seok-youl, and now Choi Jae-hyung," and argued, "We told them to guard the house well, but they are trying to take over the master bedroom. We told them to work with a sense of ownership, but they are acting like the owner. Honestly, wouldn't it be more straightforward to participate in the Gwanghwamun Taegeukgi rallies like Jeon Gwang-hoon?"

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