Assembly committee adopts Blue House audit witnesses, omits opposition's requested aides
In short
South Korea's National Assembly Steering Committee on 21 October adopted witnesses for its audit of the Blue House, naming only institutional witnesses. The People Power Party's requests for Kang Hoon-sik, Kim Yong-beom and Kim Hyun-ji were not adopted after the Democratic Party objected. The audit of the presidential secretariat is set for 29 October.
Read the full story 3 min read
South Korea's National Assembly Steering Committee (운영위원회) on 21 October adopted witnesses for its audit of the Blue House (청와대), calling only institutional witnesses. The People Power Party had asked for former chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik (강훈식), former policy chief Kim Yong-beom (김용범) and Kim Hyun-ji (김현지), head of the first secretary's office, as general witnesses. Chosun Ilbo also listed Jeong Jin-sang (정진상), a former head of the Democratic Party's political coordination office, among those requested. Their adoption failed because the Democratic Party opposed it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 ]
The adopted witnesses include chief of staff Im Gwang-hyeon (임광현), policy chief Ha Jun-gyeong (하준경), national security office head Wi Sung-lac (위성락) and, according to Yonhap, Korea Economic Daily and Kukmin Ilbo, senior secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo (홍익표). Chosun Ilbo also listed Presidential Security Service head Hwang In-kwon (황인권). Chosun Ilbo said Im was appointed about two weeks ago. Seoul Shinmun, Maeil Business and Korea Economic Daily reported the vote as 15 in favour and 5 against, while Yonhap reported 20 in favour and 5 against among 25 members present. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 ]
People Power Party members argued that former aides must appear. Choi Eun-seok (최은석) said it was hard to see how the party could audit the Blue House without checking allegations including Kim Hyun-ji's alleged personnel intervention. According to Yonhap, the party wanted explanations of alleged personnel intervention and of how single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds were introduced. Kim Seung-su (김승수), the party's committee secretary, said recently appointed officials cannot be questioned on a personnel failure or the leveraged ETF policy. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 9 ]
Han Byung-do (한병도), the Democratic Party floor leader who chairs the committee, opposed calling Kang and Kim Yong-beom, saying predecessors would have nothing to answer because of official confidentiality duties. He said no first secretary's office head had appeared at an audit from the 2000s through 2025, and that Jeong Jin-sang held no public post under the current government. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Eun-su (전은수) asked for evidence if intervention in personnel was alleged. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
The session also clashed over Yoon Yong-geun (윤용근), a People Power Party lawmaker, who said President Lee Jae-myung still insists on the Hannam-dong residence he had called problematic and asked for the president and Kim Hye-kyung (김혜경) to be called as witnesses. Han asked whether he had heard correctly and said such an argument should not be made. Democratic Party members shouted back, and People Power Party members asked where any sanctuary was. Maeil Business reported that Han cut the microphone. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Kim Seung-su also said the party had requested 74 items of material and received none, according to Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business. The committee also changed its audit plan by agreement of both parties: the Human Rights Commission will be audited on the morning of 29 October, and the presidential secretariat, National Security Office and Presidential Security Service that afternoon, instead of 30 October as first planned. Assembly bodies are to be audited on 30 October. Maeil Business reported that the absence of general witnesses makes this the second year in a row with none. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
Why it matters
The Blue House audit will hear only current officials, while the opposition had wanted former and senior aides questioned on personnel and policy allegations. The documents show the two parties sharply divided over who may be called, and the outlets differ on the vote count.
Key facts
- On 21 October the National Assembly Steering Committee (운영위원회) adopted witnesses for its audit of the Blue House (청와대), calling only institutional witnesses and no general witnesses. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 ]
- The People Power Party's requested witnesses, including former chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, former policy chief Kim Yong-beom and first secretary's office head Kim Hyun-ji, were not adopted because the Democratic Party opposed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- The adopted witnesses include chief of staff Im Gwang-hyeon, policy chief Ha Jun-gyeong, national security office head Wi Sung-lac and senior secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo. [ 4 , 9 , 11 ]
- The audit of the presidential secretariat, National Security Office and Presidential Security Service is set for the afternoon of 29 October; the Human Rights Commission is audited that morning. [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 11 ]
- Committee chair Han Byung-do said predecessors cannot give answers because of official confidentiality duties, and that no first secretary's office head has appeared at an audit from the 2000s through 2025. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Yong-geun called for President Lee Jae-myung and Kim Hye-kyung to be witnesses, which led to a shouting match. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The committee adopted only institutional witnesses for the Blue House audit; the general witnesses requested by the People Power Party, including Kang Hoon-sik, Kim Yong-beom and Kim Hyun-ji, were not adopted because the Democratic Party opposed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- The Blue House audit was moved to 29 October from the originally planned 30 October, and the Human Rights Commission is audited that morning. [ 4 , 7 , 11 ]
- Yoon Yong-geun asked for President Lee and Kim Hye-kyung to be called as witnesses, and Democratic Party members and the chair objected amid shouting. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- The vote tally on the witness motion. Seoul Shinmun, Maeil Business and Korea Economic Daily report 15 in favour and 5 against; Yonhap reports 20 in favour and 5 against, with 25 members present. Korea Economic Daily gives 20 present, Yonhap 25.
- The allegations the opposition wanted to ask about, including personnel intervention. They were raised by People Power Party members; Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Eun-su said evidence should be presented if intervention is alleged.
- Whether this is the second year in a row without general witnesses. Only Maeil Business reports it as a second consecutive year of zero general witnesses.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis reports the committee has adopted witnesses for the Blue House audit, excluding Kang Hoon-sik, Kim Yong-beom and Kim Hyun-ji. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the committee's plenary session adopted institutional witnesses and rejected the opposition's general witnesses. [ 4 ]
- Maeil Business reports the session ended with the audit date fixed for 29 October. [ 7 ]