[2025 Audit] Popular Culture Exchange Committee Processes Presidential Decree, Budget, and Contract in a Single Day...Legal Controversy

9 Billion Won Spent on Launch Ceremony
Korea National University of Arts Budget Used via Email Notification

President Lee Jae-myung and Park Jin-young, Chairman of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee Photo by Yonhap News

The Popular Culture Exchange Committee, which was launched on October 1, has come under controversy for allegedly violating the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Contract Act, as it processed the enactment of a presidential decree, budget allocation, and a private contract for an event all within a single day.

On October 29, Assemblyman Kim Seungsoo of the People Power Party criticized the administration during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, stating, “This is a hasty administration that ignored legislative, budgetary, and contractual procedures.”

The process of enacting the presidential decree was singled out as problematic. According to the Ministry of Government Legislation, it typically takes five to seven months to enact such a decree. The Popular Culture Exchange Committee completed it in just 22 days. The legally mandated 40-day legislative notice period under the Administrative Procedures Act was also shortened to just ten days. Due to the rushed drafting of regulations, errors such as repeated provisions occurred.

The budget is also a point of contention. The 920 million won spent on the launch ceremony was drawn from the Korea National University of Arts’ budget, and this was communicated via email without an official document. Half of the budget was spent on event expenses, with most of the rest going to operational costs such as rental fees and facility expenses. Only 5 million won was allocated as allowances for committee meetings and gatherings. Assemblyman Kim pointed out, “The budget approved by the National Assembly was diverted at the request of the presidential office.”

The private contract with the event service provider was also executed on the same day. At 1:25 p.m. on September 25, immediately after the presidential decree was enacted and the Ministry of Economy and Finance approved the budget allocation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed a contract worth 440 million won with the provider. Assemblyman Kim stated, “If the company participated in prior internal meetings and obtained event information, this could constitute a violation of the National Contract Act.”

The day of the launch ceremony coincided with a fire at the National Data Center, which paralyzed the government’s administrative systems. Although server recovery was only at 15.6 percent, President Lee Jaemyung and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyeong proceeded with the ceremony.

Assemblyman Kim remarked, “While public officials involved in the accident response were driven to extreme measures, the president went to the event venue,” adding, “The government’s basic attitude is questionable.” He continued, “There is no precedent for the legal basis, budget, and contract all being processed within a single day. If any illegal actions are confirmed, an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection and criminal charges will be necessary.”

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