From the Honam Semiconductor Cluster to Genencell... Disputes Over Witness Selection for the National Audit

Clashes Erupt in Every Standing Committee

Ruling Party Pushes Forward with Adoption of Cho Hee-dae as Witness

As the National Assembly enters the process of designating witnesses and reference persons ahead of the National Audit, which begins on October 6, both the ruling and opposition parties are clashing within standing committees over issues ranging from the adoption of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae as a witness to the request for attendance of the heads of Samsung and SK regarding the Honam Semiconductor Cluster.

According to the National Assembly on October 1, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, selected Chief Justice Cho as a general witness on September 28. The Political Affairs Committee continues to negotiate over the selection of witnesses from the financial sector. The Democratic Party has stated its intention to examine corporate governance, household loans, and internal controls through the chairmen and presidents of the five major financial holding companies and banks. The People Power Party is demanding the attendance of former Blue House policy chief Kim Yongbeom and Mirae Asset Group Chairman Park Hyeon-joo regarding the process of introducing single-asset leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The Strategy and Finance Committee plans to summon Kim Beomseok, CEO of Woowa Brothers, to question issues related to the transfer of funds to its overseas parent company and domestic taxation. Koo Yoonkoo, CEO of Google Korea, has been designated as a witness concerning corporate tax issues. The Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee has designated Choi Joohee, CEO of TVING, Yoon Sanghyun, CEO of CJ ENM, and chief information security officers from the three major telecommunications companies as witnesses.

The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s main issues include the recent DMZ landmine incident, the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and investment into the United States. The National Defense Committee has named Dongkwan Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, Jongchul Kim, CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and Shin Ikhyun, CEO of LIG Defense & Aerospace, as witnesses regarding Hanwha’s increased stake in Korea Aerospace Industries and defense industry order processes.

Members of the People Power Party on the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee have requested that Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, be designated as witnesses or reference persons concerning the Honam Semiconductor Cluster, but the Democratic Party remains cautious. The committee has confirmed Choi Seungho, Chairman of the Samsung Group Labor Union, as a witness regarding the performance bonus distribution issue, and Homeplus case-related MBK Partners Chairman Kim Byungjoo is also set to attend.

The Health and Welfare Committee is focused on whether officials from Genencell will appear as witnesses regarding allegations of lobbying for a new drug involving former justice minister nominee Kim Seungwon. Paek Jongheon, People Power Party health and welfare committee secretary, stated, "If even the selection of witnesses for the audit is refused, it amounts to an attempt to cover up the truth itself."

In the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, there has been ongoing debate over the request for director Hur Jin-ho and the production team to attend regarding the controversy surrounding the film 'Assassin(s)'. Park Jinyoung, co-chairperson of the Presidential Committee for the Exchange of Popular Culture, has expressed her intent to attend the National Audit to provide a direct explanation.

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