[Reporter’s Notebook] National Assembly Audit Halts Despite Disputes Over Quarantine Rules

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] It is the second week of the National Assembly audit. However, the ruling and opposition parties sharply clashed over the Board of Legislation and Judiciary's audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection. The opposition claims that the presidential office led political oppression based on text messages sent by Yoo Byung-ho, Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection, to Lee Gwan-seop, Senior Secretary for National Planning at the Presidential Office, while the ruling party counters that the opposition is turning current issues into political strife. Voices predicting a breakdown also emerged inside and outside the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

As expected, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit broke down within 10 minutes of starting. Although 31 witnesses were present, only 20 people, including Choi Jae-hae, the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, entered the audit hall to comply with quarantine rules. The Democratic Party requested a procedural speech in protest. In response to the opposition's request for a procedural speech, Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, asked, "Please make the procedural speech after the business report," and after a tense exchange between the ruling and opposition parties, the situation paused.

Both the opposition, which requested the procedural speech despite the issue not being significant, and the ruling party, which refused to accept the procedural speech leading to an eventual recess, bear responsibility. This audit was about the Board of Audit and Inspection, where the most intense confrontation was expected due to the recent ‘Board of Audit and Inspection text message’ incident. It was obvious that the session would turn into a political battleground rather than a pure audit, and the tense exchange over the procedural speech was a preliminary skirmish.

Before the audit, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the audit strategy meeting, "Even if the opposition turns all current issues into political strife, please faithfully focus on policies." However, watching the audit, this request seemed like nothing more than an echo.

Even as it enters the second week, it has become difficult to find the original purpose of the National Assembly audit, which is the ‘legislative branch’s check on the executive branch.’ The people sigh. Despite soaring oil prices, instability in the real estate market, and rising inflation making daily life increasingly difficult, discussions on people’s livelihoods are hard to find in the National Assembly. Both parties initially advocated for a ‘livelihood audit,’ but when the lid was opened, the reality was a ‘political strife audit,’ a ‘d?j? vu’ that the people experience with every administration. When will we be able to break free from this repetitive cycle?

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