Shin Jeong-hoon Reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for Abuse of Authority over 'Exit Order at the Public Administration and Security Committee'

Kim Kwang-dong, Former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, Sues Shin Jeong-hoon
"Order to Leave Is Abuse of Authority Without Legal Basis"
Shin Jeong-hoon: "Invoked Order to Maintain Discipline Due to Impropriety"

Kim Gwang-dong, former chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the TRC), filed a complaint with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) against Shin Jeong-hoon, chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party, on charges of abuse of authority.

Former Chairman Kim Gwang-dong announced on the 27th that he had submitted the complaint to the PCC. Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon ordered the removal of former Chairman Kim and others during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit in October. Former Chairman Kim argued that this action lacked legal grounds and constituted an abuse of authority.

Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

At that time, Hwang In-soo, head of the TRC Investigation Division 1, who appeared as a witness, did not comply with Chairman Shin's demand to remove his mask. As a former National Intelligence Service agent, he expressed concerns that revealing his face could harm those who had assisted him during his service in the intelligence agency. In response, Chairman Shin stated, "The stubborn insistence on wearing a mask at the National Assembly witness stand cannot be accepted for any reason," and revealed a past media photo showing Hwang's face. Furthermore, he defined the refusal to remove the mask as "an insult to the National Assembly" and ordered his removal.

Former Chairman Kim was also removed for refusing Chairman Shin's request that Hwang remove his mask. Kim argued, "According to inquiries made to the Ministry of Personnel Management and others, the head of an institution cannot forcibly require someone to remove a mask, and wearing a mask is neither illegal nor a violation of the duty to maintain dignity."

Former Chairman Kim pointed out that the National Assembly Act cited by Chairman Shin as the basis for the 'removal order' does not apply to this situation. Article 49 stipulates that the standing committee chairperson organizes the agenda, maintains order, and supervises affairs but does not grant the authority to order the removal of witnesses who have complied with summons.

Additionally, Article 145, Paragraph 1 states that a 'member of the National Assembly' may be warned or restrained if they disturb order in the plenary or committee meetings. Paragraph 2 of the same article allows the chairperson to prohibit speech or remove a 'member' who does not comply with such measures. These provisions apply only to members of the National Assembly.

Kim Kwang-dong, former chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Photo by Yonhap News

In a phone interview with Asia Economy, former Chairman Kim said, "The head of an institution has the duty to appear before the National Assembly, a constitutional institution, to report to the public through questioning and work reports, but this was obstructed. The standing committee chairperson can exercise the right to maintain order when the meeting cannot proceed smoothly, but on what regulation is the removal order based when there was no disruption to the agenda, such as wearing a mask?"

In response, Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon stated, "This is outrageous. I exercised the right to maintain order as the meeting facilitator because their conduct significantly violated the dignity expected of a national public official. It was not just a simple mask but a level of covering that left only the eyes visible, and the meeting could not proceed without verifying their identity," he explained.

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