[2023 National Audit] "Kim Gi-hyeon’s Absurd Show"... Heated Dispute Over Portable Radiation Detector Causes Science and ICT Committee 'Disruption'

Min Hyung-bae "Portable measuring devices are ineffective" inquiry
Original Committee Chair unable to get proper response time
Park Sung-joong, giving chance to explain, points out "strange inquiry"
Opposition shouts "Apologize"

During the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) on the 12th, the ruling and opposition parties exchanged loud arguments over the effectiveness of portable radiation devices, causing a temporary disruption.

Min Hyung-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, questioned Yoo Guk-hee, the NSSC Chairperson, saying, "In the case of general portable radiation detectors, it is considered unsuitable for measuring cesium or iodine in food, so it is difficult to use them as a basis for judging whether there is harm to the human body. Is that correct?"

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, visited the seafood market in Maechon-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu on the 22nd to conduct radiation measurements on seafood. 2023.9.22
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He then said, "Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the ruling party, is putting on a ridiculous show," and asked, "Is there any meaning in measuring with such a device?" This was a criticism of Kim’s visit last month to a seafood market in Daegu, where he measured radiation in seafood using a portable device.

Min pointed out, "When the ruling party leader goes there like that, someone should have told him, 'Oh no, Mr. Leader, what is the government supposed to do? No, that device is ineffective,'" adding, "I measured it myself, and it is an ineffective device."

Chairperson Yoo responded, "It varies depending on the amount of radiation. You cannot make a judgment based on just one device."

After Min’s questioning ended, Park Sung-joong, a member of the People Power Party and the ruling party’s secretary who was presiding over the audit in place of Jang Je-won, the committee chair, demanded a clear answer from Chairperson Yoo.

Yoo explained again, "The purpose depends on which device you buy and use for measurement. There are devices intended to check surface contamination, and there are devices that analyze samples to confirm the presence of nuclear materials."

On the 12th, Park Seong-jung, a member of the People Power Party acting as the chairman, is conducting the meeting at the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit held at the National Assembly. 2023.10.12
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 12th, during the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit, Democratic Party lawmakers Jo Seung-rae, Go Min-jeong, and Min Hyeong-bae protested against the remarks of Park Seong-jung of the People Power Party, who was acting as the committee chair.
Park criticized the opposition lawmaker's question pointing out the limitations of the radiation detector as "strange," drawing protests. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, opposition lawmakers strongly protested, saying things like, "Why are you conducting the proceedings like this from the chairperson’s seat?" and "If you want to put on a show, do it properly."

Then Park also snapped at Min, saying, "Your statement is over. You are asking strange questions yourself," and added, "So are you saying that devices costing over 5 million won are useless garbage? On what basis do you say that?"

The opposition lawmakers pushed back strongly. Jo Seung-rae, the opposition secretary, said, "How can you say the question was strange to the chairperson? Apologize," and Ko Min-jung criticized, "Is the chairperson a rookie?"

As protests and demands for an apology from Democratic Party lawmakers intensified, the audit, which had started around 10 a.m., was adjourned after 1 hour and 15 minutes. After the audit resumed, Park said, "The National Assembly audit is not a place to spread fake news or inaccurate news. From that perspective, we gave an additional opportunity to answer the question," and refused to apologize, adding, "I will say no more." Opposition members expressed disbelief.

Following this, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee audit continued with a dispute over the safety of the ocean and seafood related to the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The Democratic Party criticized the government and ruling party for insufficient disclosure of information and lack of active response regarding the contaminated water issue. On the other hand, the People Power Party countered that the opposition was inciting public anxiety through rumor-mongering.

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