Yoon Seok-yeol Government's First National Audit... Historic Disruption on Final Day, Widespread 'Temporary Postponement and Audit Suspension'

Democrats Strongly Oppose Prosecutors' Search and Seizure... Morning 10 AM Party Meeting Called, National Audit Temporarily Postponed
All Standing Committees Except Science and ICT Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee Unable to Even Start National Audit

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The first national audit of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration concluded on the 24th with comprehensive audits by 10 standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. However, a historic disruption occurred as conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties peaked during the prosecution's attempt to search the Democratic Research Institute that morning.

The National Assembly inspection of the Ministry of Justice and others, scheduled to be held on the 24th, has not been convened as the Democratic Party urgently called a party meeting in response to the prosecution's search and seizure of the Democratic Party office. Photo by Yoon Do-wook doso7@

Foreign Minister Park Jin attended the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies on the 24th, waiting for the audit to begin. The Democratic Party of Korea convened an emergency party meeting regarding the prosecution's search and seizure of the central party office, causing a delay in the audit. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Democratic Party immediately opposed the prosecution's renewed search attempt and convened an emergency party meeting.

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, sent a message to lawmakers stating, "An emergency party meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on the 24th. Please make sure to attend."

Oh Young-hwan, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters after the morning Supreme Council meeting, "The Democratic Party judged that normal national audit proceedings are impossible due to the prosecution's surprise search on the opposition party. We will announce our response plan after the party meeting results."

As the Democratic Party held a party meeting with all its members attending, the national audits scheduled for each standing committee at the same time (10 a.m.) were automatically postponed one after another.

That day, the National Assembly had planned comprehensive audits to conclude the first national audit of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration in 10 standing committees: Legislation and Judiciary, Political Affairs, Planning and Finance, Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Foreign Affairs and Unification, National Defense, Public Administration and Security, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Environment and Labor. However, due to the Democratic Party's strong opposition to the prosecution's search of the Democratic Research Institute and the convening of a party meeting, all standing committee audits except for the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee were postponed without even starting.

At the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting, which was held with only People Power Party members attending, criticism was directed at the Democratic Party members who did not attend the audit.

Kim Seok-ki, the People Power Party whip, said, "Currently, the Democratic Party is absent from the audit. We deeply regret the Democratic Party's behavior that is driving the audit into disruption."

Yoon Jae-ok, the People Power Party member and chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, declared, "Today is the day for the comprehensive audit. Until now, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee has conducted the audit more smoothly than any other committee through bipartisan cooperation. However, on the last day, the Democratic Party is absent. Considering the Democratic Party's party meeting situation, we have decided to suspend the audit for now and resume it later."

The Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee audit also broke down just 15 minutes after it began that day.

Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party whip, explained, "There was a first search of the Democratic Party central office last week, and today, just before 9 a.m., 17 people including prosecutors, investigators, and officers entered the Democratic Party central office without any warrant instructions or explanations, sneaking in as if they were just visitors."

He added, "If law enforcement is to be conducted properly, it is right to present a warrant and request cooperation based on the presented warrant. This is not warrant execution but an intrusion into the central office by the prosecution, so we had no choice but to urgently respond with emergency measures," and requested a recess.

Democratic Party lawmaker Byun Jae-il also requested a recess, saying, "If we call witnesses and engage in political fights without getting to the essential questions, I think the public and the media will view this very coldly." The Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee chair Jeong Cheong-rae accepted this and declared a recess, requesting order in the chamber.

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