[2023 National Audit] Minister Kim Hyun-sook Apologizes for World Jamboree Controversy as Minister... "Not a 'Disruption'"

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Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, repeatedly expressed her apology as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family to the Scout members who experienced inconvenience and to the public who were worried in various ways regarding the 'Jamboree disruption controversy.' However, when asked about the responsibility for the disruption, she denied that there was a disruption, stating that "there were difficulties in the initial operation."

Minister Kim made these remarks on the 2nd at the Gender Equality and Family Committee's National Assembly audit held in the committee meeting room. She said, "I have expressed my intention to resign regarding that part (Jamboree disruption), but it was not accepted, and I will faithfully perform my duties currently assigned," adding, "As the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, I will do my best to take care of my responsibilities and various tasks."

However, regarding her absence from the full meeting of the Gender Equality and Family Committee on August 25, she explained, "I think it is excessive to describe it as 'running away,'" and added, "The spokesperson was on the 5th floor and went to the restroom, during which various things happened." Minister Kim, who was scheduled to attend at the time, did not come to the meeting room because the agreement on the reference was not reached and the ruling party's attendance was not confirmed.

On the same day, in response to a question from Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker from the Basic Income Party, asking, "Do you think you have managed the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family well over the past year and a half?" Minister Kim said, "There were difficulties in the early operation of the Jamboree at the public's level of expectation, so I acknowledge the shortcomings," and added, "I did my best."

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook is reporting on work at the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee's audit on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Also, when Jo Eun-hee, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, asked, "How was the budget management related to the Jamboree handled?" Minister Kim replied, "An amount exceeding 3 billion won requires the approval of the organizing committee chairman," and said, "Amounts below that can be approved by the secretary-general or the head of headquarters, so many of the matters you mentioned were actually executed by the organizing committee secretariat." She continued, "75% of the public officials in Jeollabuk-do are part of the organizing committee secretariat," and added, "Since the structure is such that the Minister of Gender Equality and Family approves it, rather than determining who is more responsible or not, an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection is necessary, and according to Article 4 of the Jamboree Special Act, the joint capabilities of the central and local governments should be specified, and responsibility for that part should be shared by all."

Then, when Ji Seong-ho, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, asked, "Did the Saemangeum Jamboree fail?" Minister Kim said, "The World Organization of the Scout Movement, the main organizer, also self-assessed that the Saemangeum Jamboree opened a new horizon through challenges and overcoming difficulties, and especially, I understand that they issued an official statement expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Minister Kim for the government's active support," adding, "Due to severe heatwaves and typhoons, there were many ups and downs, which increased negative perceptions, but I believe that the Saemangeum Jamboree will be re-evaluated someday."

When Heo Sook-jung, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asked again, "Do you acknowledge the Jamboree disruption?" Minister Kim answered, "It is not (a disruption)," and said, "I mentioned that there were difficulties in the initial operation."

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