Han Jeongae: "No Reason for Kim Hyeonji Not to Attend Audit... If Opposition Raises Issue, She May Say 'I'll Go'"

Assemblyman Cho Jeongsik Opposes Attendance, Saying "No Need to Appear"
Witness Confirmation Delayed Due to People Power Party's Objection

Han Jeongae, Chair of the Policy Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, left open the possibility of Kim Hyeonji, First Secretary to the President, attending the National Assembly Steering Committee's parliamentary audit on the 1st, stating, "There is no reason for her not to appear."

Appearing on MBC Radio that day, Chair Han was asked whether she thought Secretary Kim would attend the audit, to which she replied, "Yes." She added, "Although a First Secretary has never appeared at a parliamentary audit before, if the opposition party treats this as if it is the sole objective of this audit, I think the person in question might say, 'I will attend.'"

When asked whether the Democratic Party could be the first to raise this issue, she responded, "The party can also bring it up," adding, "Since the issue keeps being raised in a strange way, it needs to be resolved."

Han Jeongae, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the "Democratic Party of Korea Voice Phishing Task Force Launch Ceremony and Party-Government Consultation" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on September 25, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, at the full meeting of the Steering Committee on the 24th of last month, the People Power Party protested that Secretary Kim (then Chief Administrative Secretary) was not included as a witness for the audit, resulting in a delay in confirming witnesses for the audit.

Of course, there are also voices within the Democratic Party saying that Secretary Kim does not need to attend. Assemblyman Cho Jeongsik said in an interview with SBS, "There is no need for her to attend." Regarding her move from Chief Administrative Secretary to First Secretary, he explained, "After the change of government, the new administration started without a transition team, so she was suddenly tasked with urgent administrative work as Chief Administrative Secretary. Now that the presidential office has stabilized, she has returned to her original position as First Secretary, assisting the President closely." Regarding the audit, he stated, "Since the chiefs of staff for administration, policy, and security are the main officials in charge, the Steering Committee’s audit can be properly conducted and questions can be addressed through them."

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