National Assembly audit closes, leaving only Shorts behind
The second National Assembly audit since the Lee Jae-myung government took office wraps up on the 30th amid criticism that it has become a 'Shorts audit.' Since beginning on the 6th, the audit saw conflicts emerge as key issues — including Chief Justice Cho Hee-de's exercise of his authority to nominate justices, the government's diplomatic and security policies, and controversy over Cheong Wa Dae personnel appointments — but critics say that shouting matches and dysfunction crowded out any substantive policy scrutiny (Yonhap News report).
The final stretch of the audit schedule still includes the failed witness adoption issue and an audit of the presidential office. During the National Assembly Steering Committee's audit of Cheong Wa Dae from the 28th to 30th, attention will focus on the failed witness adoptions of Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential office's first deputy chief of staff; former chief secretary Kang Hoon-sik; and former senior presidential secretary for policy Kim Yong-beom. A battle is also expected over what the opposition calls 'Mansa-hyeontong' — the alleged attempt to make all political secretaries answerable to the National Assembly. The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee will address the government's response to strains in the South Korea-U.S. alliance and North Korea's landmine provocations in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Criticism of a 'Shorts audit' arose as short clips of lawmakers from both parties shouting and hurling abuse spread across social media. Rep. Kim Tae-gyu of the People Power Party drew attention for his reference to 'Owl Rock.' A heated exchange between Rep. Seo Young-kyo, chair of a committee from the Democratic Party, and Rep. Park Hyung-su of the People Power Party — in which they called each other 'an organized thug' and a 'female gangster' — was turned into Shorts and used for promotion aimed at hardline supporters.
Rep. Lim I-ja, policy committee chair of the People Power Party, notified all of her party's aides to submit white paper drafts and 15-second Shorts videos. The Democratic Party likewise posted short edited clips of its lawmakers' questioning through its public YouTube channel.
As soon as the audit ends, both parties will begin reviewing next year's budget bill on the 30th — the largest in history. The sharpest clash is expected over the 162 trillion-won Future Response Fund. The People Power Party opposes it, arguing that 17.577 trillion won of the fund's project costs amount to a wasteful cash giveaway, while the Democratic Party counters that it is a mechanism to secure fiscal stability by investing surging tax revenues in future growth (Yonhap News report).
