Democratic Party Judiciary Committee Member: "Choi Jaehae, Auditor General, Must Apologize to the Public... Secretary-General Should Warn Against Reckless Behavior"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The lawmakers of the Democratic Party on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee demanded a public apology from Chief Auditor Choi Jae-ha, stating that Choi’s remark that "the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) is an institution supporting the president’s governance" undermined the neutrality and independence of the BAI.

On the 1st, the Democratic Party lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee demanded, "Immediately issue a public apology for the remarks on the 29th that downgraded the BAI to a governance support institution." They added, "Immediately halt the politically motivated audits and targeted inspections currently being conducted on the Korea Communications Commission, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, KBS, and others. Publicly warn Secretary General Yoo Byung-ho, who repeatedly damages the neutrality and independence of the BAI through various abuses of power, to refrain from reckless behavior, and restore the BAI to normalcy."

They stated, "If these demands are not accepted, it is appropriate for the Chief Auditor to resign immediately," and added, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee will not ease its oversight to secure the neutrality and independence of the BAI and will promptly prepare measures to check and balance."

The Democratic Party lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee pointed out, "Even without Chief Auditor Choi’s confession, acts that undermine the neutrality and independence of the BAI are being repeated," and said, "The BAI is being mobilized to target institution heads appointed by the previous administration and whose terms are guaranteed by law." Regarding the requests for submission of materials related to former KDI President Hong Jang-pyo and the demand for the resignation of former Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee, followed by a preliminary audit of the Commission, they called it a "deliberate scheme." They also raised issues with the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit, KBS, and the reinvestigation of the West Sea civil servant killing incident.

They said, "This is also confirmed in the remarks of Secretary General Yoo, who is considered a powerful figure," and added, "Yoo disparages the five years of the Moon Jae-in administration as an abnormal period for the BAI." The Democratic Party lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee criticized, "The Chief Auditor is not reprimanding Secretary General Yoo but is instead busy protecting him," and said, "The dissatisfaction within the BAI that Chief Auditor Choi is hiding behind Secretary General Yoo is ultimately a situation that Choi himself has brought about."

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