Legislation Committee, Prosecution Special Activity Expenses Dispute: Choi Kang-wook "Acting Cheeky" vs Han Dong-hoon "Apologize"

Yeo Mentions 'Prosecutor Special Activity Fund Cuts'

On the 21st, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the disclosure of the prosecution's special activity expenses and business promotion expenses at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Special activity expenses are funds used for information gathering and case investigations that require confidentiality. Amid recent controversies over the misuse of special activity expenses and the provision of incomplete data, the Democratic Party pointed out a 'tax revenue leak.' During the committee meeting, questions were raised to Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, and a commotion occurred over his attitude.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the afternoon plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin questioned the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of the prosecution's special activity expenses. He said, "Special activity expenses are only checked through a checklist due to their special nature. However, according to the Board of Audit and Inspection's guidelines for improving special activity expenses, internal control measures such as self-guidelines should be established and submitted to the Board." He added, "(The Board) said they have never properly received such submissions," pointing out, "This is the problem. We thought the Board of Audit and Inspection would conduct thorough audits, but they just stood by."

Lawmaker Park emphasized, "Respect for the people who pay taxes with their blood and sweat must be upheld by cutting such expenses (like the prosecution's special activity expenses)."

Minister Han rebutted, "It is a lie that the Board of Audit and Inspection could not review the documents," adding, "To claim that public funds were embezzled, there should be evidence comparable to a 2018 case where a lawmaker submitted receipts twice to the National Election Commission and the National Assembly Secretariat to embezzle money. Such evidence is necessary." He continued, "Claiming 'bribes' without any basis regarding the receipts is a very insulting statement."

During the subsequent Q&A, Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook criticized Minister Han's attitude. When Minister Han raised his voice to rebut during Park's questioning, Choi pointed out the mixing of questions and answers. In the exchange with Choi, the struggle for control led to overlapping questions and answers, prompting Minister Han to say, "You don't give me a chance and yet ask me to answer again." Choi retorted, "That's why people keep saying you are being cheeky."

When Minister Han asked, "Isn't that too much?" and demanded an apology, Choi responded again, "Don't be cheeky. That's why you keep getting spoken down to."

Following this, a heated debate broke out between ruling and opposition lawmakers over the minister's manner of speech and the authority of National Assembly members.

People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk criticized, "If you want to criticize the attitude of ministers or government officials appearing before the committee, lawmakers must also conduct their inquiries appropriately within the scope entrusted by the people. There is a line that should not be crossed during questioning, and directly saying 'cheeky' is lawmakers undermining their own authority." On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae pointed out, "The questioning process is not normal when the minister talks over the questions to the point that the questions cannot be heard," and urged, "Chairman Kim Do-eup should correct this immediately."

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