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The audit conducted by the National Assembly on government agencies, which started on the 13th of last month, has continuously encountered obstacles from the beginning. Disputes between the ruling party and the opposition regarding meeting procedures, personal disagreements among legislators, and live transmissions of vulgar language have caused the audit to lose its initial objective: overseeing and scrutinizing the executive branch. The opposition also condemned the Democratic Party, saying, “The one-sided actions taken by certain committee chairpersons from the Democratic Party are intensifying tensions.”

The Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly (SIBCC) carried out an audit on the 16th targeting the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and the Korea Aerospace Administration, among others. The session, planned to begin at 10 a.m. with presentations and questioning, ended after 40 minutes due to a dispute regarding “offensive text messages” shared between lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition during the audit two days earlier.

On the 14th, during the SIBCC audit, Representative Kim Woo-young from the Democratic Party (Seoul Eunpyeong-gu) disclosed that Representative Park Jeong-hoon from the People Power Party (Seoul Songpa-gu Gap) had sent him a text message last month stating, “Sigh, you pathetic fool!” The phone number of Park was made public during this process. Park responded by saying, “You pathetic XX,” and both lawmakers subsequently filed police complaints against each other.

Rep. Park issued a public apology to the general public and members of the SIBCC via a statement regarding his personal matters on that day. Nevertheless, he remarked, “I have no regrets regarding Rep. Kim.” Rep. Kim refuted Park’s assertions during press briefings, where he claimed, “Rep. Kim also sent me a vulgar text message,” calling it “undoubtedly untrue.” Meanwhile, lawmakers from the People Power Party demonstrated against the proceedings led by Democratic Party Rep. Choi Min-hee (Gyeonggi Namyangju Gap), who serves as the SIBCC chairperson. Chairperson Choi addressed the People Power Party members, saying, “You’re all acting like a hive of bees—do you serve as Rep. Park’s representative?” As the conflict escalated, Chairperson Choi called for a suspension of the meeting.

The audit restarted at 2 p.m. but was stopped after 15 minutes. Rep. Kim requested an apology from Rep. Park, claiming he did not send any offensive messages, whereas Rep. Park maintained that he received one. Each side accused the other of “fabrication” and “shamelessness.” Chairperson Choi changed the meeting into a private session, stating to reporters, “You are selectively taking photos and videos. Please go away.” The audit was subsequently put on hold.

The SIBCC later included “Discussion on Committee Members’ Personal Affairs” in the agenda for a private session. There, lawmakers reportedly hurled insults such as “a face that’s easy to punch” and “I’ll beat you.” The audit only continued questioning at 4:30 p.m. following the two lawmakers’ reconciliation. During the break, 43 witnesses and reference persons waited for 6 hours and 30 minutes, and Chairperson Choi apologized, stating, “I am truly sorry.”

The audit conducted by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the Board of Audit and Inspection also experienced multiple postponements. Throughout the session, Democratic Party Representative Choo Mi-ae (Gyeonggi Hanam Gap), who serves as the committee’s chair, limited the speaking privileges of People Power Party Representative Kwak Kyu-taek. Previously, she had called for an apology from opposition lawmakers for undermining the dignity of individual members or the chairperson. When Rep. Kwak raised objections, she prevented him from speaking. The opposition responded with a protest, causing the meeting to be suspended for approximately 30 minutes. On the 13th, when witness Cha Jin-a, a professor at Korea University, criticized the Democratic Party, Chairperson Choo requested that he “avoid making unnecessary remarks.”

Dispute also emerged regarding Chairperson Choo’s YouTube video upload. On the 15th, she shared a 17-second clip titled *‘On-site Verification at the Supreme Court is in Progress’* on her personal channel. The video depicted her moving under the direction of Chun Dae-yup, head of the National Court Administration (Justice), during the Supreme Court on-site inspection conducted by the Democratic Party. Chairperson Choo and members of the ruling party climbed onto the bench in the main courtroom and took souvenir photos in the corridor. The ruling party had previously condemned the Supreme Court’s May decision to return President Lee Jae-myung’s Public Official Election Act case with a guilty verdict as a “judicial coup,” and even though there was resistance, they held a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and appointed him as an audit witness.

Members of the People Power Party in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a press event, revealing intentions to draft laws aimed at stopping Chairperson Choo’s independent actions. Rep. Na Kyung-won (Seoul Dongjak-gu) mentioned, “We intend to establish legislation that will limit the chairperson’s ability to remove lawmakers’ speaking rights under the pretense of maintaining order.” Although standing committees are meant to include secretaries from every negotiation group, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee currently lacks a People Power Party secretary. Despite the party suggesting Rep. Na as the opposition secretary, the nomination was turned down due to resistance from Chairperson Choo and members of the ruling party. As per the National Assembly Act, standing committee chairs should determine meeting schedules in collaboration with secretaries, but the People Power Party asserts that Chairperson Choo is making decisions on their own.