Welfare Committee Audit, 'Lee Jae-myung Helicopter Transfer' Hot Issue... Ruling Party "Special Treatment" vs Opposition "Demonization"

Ruling Party: "Anti-Corruption Commission Admits Clear Favoritism"
Opposition: "Has the Anti-Corruption Commission Collapsed?"

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the controversy surrounding his helicopter transfer during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare held on the 8th. The People Power Party criticized the helicopter transfer of Lee, who was stabbed in a knife attack in Busan last January, to Seoul National University Hospital as an excessive special favor, while the Democratic Party countered that Lee was being demonized.

On the same day, Seo Myeong-ok, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out during the Health and Welfare Committee audit, "Can a helicopter transfer to Seoul be arranged without the attending physician’s judgment at Busan National University Hospital?" and added, "This is a very simple matter that even an elementary school student would judge as a special favor."

Regarding the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s judgment that the medical staff at Seoul National University Hospital could not refuse Lee’s transfer request, violating the public officials’ code of conduct clause excluding special favors, Seo emphasized, "These doctors are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures. The Anti-Corruption Commission clearly acknowledged it as a special favor."

Seo also claimed, "As the leader of a public party, Lee is not apologizing to the public or the medical staff but is instead busy denying it," adding, "This leaves room for such shameless behavior."

Another People Power Party lawmaker, Ahn Sang-hoon, mentioned the disciplinary procedures against the medical staff and said, "The person who made the request is not being disciplined," urging the Ministry of Health and Welfare to prepare improvement measures, noting, "There seem to be gaps in the regulations or manuals held by the Ministry."

On the other hand, the opposition protested that it was inappropriate to involve the opposition party leader in a government audit and urged not to focus on demonizing Lee for political conflict.

Lee Su-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker, argued, "During the full meeting of the Anti-Corruption Commission at the time, some members boycotted the vote and walked out. The reason the Commission reached an unreasonable conclusion was to divert attention from the Kim Geon-hee luxury bag incident," and questioned, "Has the Anti-Corruption Commission been ruined?"

She continued, "Wasn’t this why former Anti-Corruption Commissioner Jeon Hyun-hee was ousted?" and added, "Stop focusing on demonizing the opposition leader to create political conflict."

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong is responding to questions from committee members during the Health and Welfare Committee's audit at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Soh Byung-hoon said, "It was a critical moment when the life of the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea was at stake, so changing the frame to ‘helicopter special favor’ is an unacceptable act," adding, "I wanted to talk about Kim’s interference in candidate selection here as well, but I did not."

Kim Mi-ae, a People Power Party lawmaker and the ruling party’s secretary, rebutted the opposition lawmakers’ backlash by saying, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare needs to revise the manual for emergency helicopter transfers." As the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties intensified, Park Joo-min, the Democratic Party member and committee chair, warned, "If it becomes too political, it may deviate from the purpose of the audit."

Following calls for the resignation of Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong at the previous day’s audit, demands for the resignation of Deputy Minister Park Min-soo also emerged. Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok asked, "Someone should take responsibility for the medical crisis. What do you think?"

In response, Deputy Minister Park said, "As the responsible deputy minister, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility," and added, "I believe that as a public official, one must do their best in their duties. I will do my best as long as I hold this position."

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