PPP Legislation Committee Members: "Emergency Inquiry on Vaccine Foreign Substances Needed, Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong Must Resign"

Request for Committee Hearing on Board of Audit and Inspection Findings
"National Assembly-Level Investigation Also Needed"

The People Power Party has called for the convening of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee to conduct an emergency hearing with the Board of Audit and Inspection, which recently announced its findings regarding foreign substances in COVID-19 vaccines. The party also proposed a National Assembly-level investigation. In addition, the party pressured Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong, who was the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency at the time of the vaccine rollout, to resign.

People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee—Na Kyungwon, Kwak Kyutaek, Song Seokjun, Shin Dongwook, Cho Baesuk, and Joo Jinwoo—held a press conference at the National Assembly on the morning of March 6, presenting these demands.

Members of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party are holding a press conference on the 6th in the committee meeting room, demanding the urgent opening of a committee inquiry regarding the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit results on the COVID-19 vaccine. From left to right: Kwak Kyutaek, Song Seokjun, Cho Baesuk, Na Kyungwon, Shin Dongwook, and Joo Jinwoo. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

At the press conference, Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon stated, "Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should stop making excuses and immediately convene the committee meeting. Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong, who became Health and Welfare Minister due to the so-called 'K-Quarantine' success, must resign at once." She continued, "This issue cannot simply end with the Board of Audit and Inspection reporting its findings to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. We are demanding a National Assembly-level investigation into this matter."

The People Power Party has already submitted a formal request to Chairwoman Choo to convene the committee. According to the party, although Chairwoman Choo initially refused to open the meeting, she later proposed holding it on the 11th. However, the party had already notified her that this date was not feasible—primarily because Assemblywoman Na, who is effectively acting as the committee's minority secretary in the absence of an opposition secretary, would be unavailable. The People Power Party is said to be demanding that the meeting be convened on the 12th instead.

Assemblyman Shin Dongwook criticized, "According to the National Assembly Act, if a quarter of all members request a meeting, it must be held. Chairwoman Choo is violating the law and abusing her power." He also rebutted Chairwoman Choo's demand for an apology over his remarks at the People Power Party's Supreme Council meeting the previous day, where he noted that the issue was urgent but Chairwoman Choo was refusing to act. He insisted, "An emergency hearing must be held as soon as this afternoon."

Meanwhile, immediately after the press conference, when Chairwoman Choo's aides attempted to make an additional statement, saying they wanted to correct "false information," People Power Party lawmakers intervened to stop them, resulting in a heated exchange between both sides.

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