[2022 National Audit] Culture Committee's 'Yoon Seok-yeol Train' Debate... Public Administration Committee in Turmoil over 'Sokuri Vote'

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyun is attending the full meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held at the National Assembly on the 20th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun, Lee Hyun-joo, Kwon Hyun-ji] On the second day of the National Assembly audit, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over sensitive issues such as a satirical cartoon by a high school student targeting the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the so-called ‘Sokuri voting.’ The opposition party mentioned the ‘Park Geun-hye blacklist,’ while the ruling party countered, saying, “Do not prejudge as if the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) did something wrong.”

At the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s audit on the 5th, Kim Yoon-duk, the opposition party’s secretary of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised his voice during a procedural speech before the current affairs report, saying, “It is utterly absurd that the MCST urgently issued two threatening press releases regarding a high school student’s work,” and added, “The Park Geun-hye government’s blacklist comes to mind again.”

At the 23rd Bucheon International Comics Festival, a satirical cartoon depicting a figure resembling First Lady Kim Keon-hee controlling a train with President Yoon’s face won the grand prize. The MCST issued a stern warning to the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, which in turn released a press statement saying it would hold the creator accountable, sparking controversy.

Rep. Kim said, “Didn’t President Yoon clearly promise at a luncheon with senior cultural and artistic figures on the 16th of last month during the ‘Yongsan era’ that ‘the government supports but does not interfere’?” and added, “The Democratic Party sternly warns the Culture Committee, which warned the artists.”

In response, Lee Yong-ho, the ruling party’s secretary, expressed regret, saying, “It is very unfortunate that Rep. Kim made remarks unrelated to the parliamentary inquiry,” and added, “You could have asked questions during the inquiry and heard the minister’s position, but despite that, you prejudged and spoke as if the MCST did something wrong, which cannot be overlooked.”

During the Public Administration and Security Committee audit, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the Central Election Commission chairman’s response regarding the so-called ‘Sokuri voting’ scandal, where ballots for COVID-19 quarantined or confirmed voters were poorly managed during the March presidential election early voting. The Election Commission has so far refused the Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit. When Rep. Jang Je-won of the People Power Party demanded a direct response from the Election Commission chairman, opposition lawmakers opposed, saying it violated the spirit of the Constitution.

Democratic Party Rep. Jo Eung-cheon pointed out, “It is inappropriate for the Central Election Commission chairman to give specific answers as it disregards the spirit of the Constitution and established parliamentary practices,” and said, “The secretary-general should respond.” Alongside this, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the prosecution’s indictment of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung for violating the Public Official Election Act during the presidential election.

At the Environment, Employment and Labor Committee audit, a dispute began over the ‘Yellow Envelope Act’ and the Serious Accident Punishment Act, which the Democratic Party is pushing as party policy. On this day, Democratic Party Rep. Jin Sung-jun cited reports that the Ministry of Economy and Finance proposed amendments to the enforcement decree of the Serious Accident Punishment Act to the Ministry of Labor during the Environment and Labor Committee audit, saying, “It is unprecedented for a non-responsible ministry to present guidelines without even issuing a legislative notice,” and requested the submission of related documents.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung urged the government at the party’s Supreme Council meeting held before the audit, saying, “Do not devote yourselves to suppressing the opposition and attacking the previous administration to hide your incompetence and failures with the power entrusted by the people.” Lee said, “The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is putting all its effort into suppressing the opposition and political retaliation against the previous administration,” and added, “I hope you always remember that power is finite.”

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