[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee Discusses Industrial Accident Hearing Amid 'Lackluster Audit' Criticism... Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association Chairman's Qualifications Disputed

The National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, which has been criticized for holding a “lackluster parliamentary audit” after failing to summon a single company executive responsible for industrial accidents as a witness, has begun discussions on summoning additional witnesses and holding a separate hearing on industrial accidents. With the ruling and opposition parties failing to reach an agreement until the final days of the audit, company executives were not summoned. Meanwhile, a dispute continued over the expertise and suitability of Jang Geon, chairman of the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association.

According to the National Assembly on Oct. 23, Choi Ki-sang of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Hyung-dong of the People Power Party, the ruling and opposition parties’ floor leaders on the committee, discussed summoning witnesses and reference witnesses during the audit period and holding a separate hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that day. Earlier, calls were made to summon executives from Hanwha affiliates, DN Automotive, Taewoong, Daeyu Winia, and LS Cable, which had faced controversy over serious accidents, labor rights violations, and unpaid wages. The People Power Party also called for working-level officials from Samsung Electronics and SK to appear to address water and power supply issues at the semiconductor industrial complex in the Honam region. However, most witness appearances fell through because the parties failed to reach an agreement.

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The committee issued attendance orders only to Park Young-woo, former chairman of Daeyu Winia, and Park Eun-jin, CEO of DYA, both of whom have faced controversy over unpaid wages. “The committee’s parliamentary audit runs through Oct. 27,” Kim Jeong-ho, the committee chair, said that day. “It has already become physically impossible to select witnesses and request their attendance.” Regarding the failure to reach an agreement on witnesses, he added, “It is because I lack the ability as chair. Please criticize me.”

Kim Hyung-dong argued that additional witnesses could still be summoned, saying the full parliamentary audit period approved by a vote of the National Assembly plenary session runs through Oct. 30. “There have been cases in which standing committees continued their audits last year in line with the date approved by the plenary session,” he said. “It is a matter that could be resolved by passing a resolution even today.” He added, “Please hold a hearing on unpaid wages, unfair labor practices, and industrial accidents, even if it takes place after the audit period.” Kim asked the floor leaders of both parties to come up with an alternative.

That day’s parliamentary audit also saw a dispute over the expertise and suitability of Jang Geon, chairman of the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party criticized Jang for lacking expertise in financial investment, pointing out that he had not submitted a personal statement or a plan for performing his duties. “Why aren’t you submitting your personal statement and plan for performing your duties to our office?” Na asked Jang. “You cannot refuse to submit the documents on the grounds of privacy or personal information.”

Yonhap News Agency

Na then brought up Jang’s past activities related to the Unified Progressive Party and asked, “From 2018 to 2021, didn’t you call for Lee Seok-ki’s release and restoration of his reputation?” When Jang replied, “I have nothing to say about that,” Na criticized him, saying, “Someone who believed that the North Korean-style socialist system of the Unified Progressive Party was right is now managing 5.6 trillion won as chairman of the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association. Do you think this is an appropriate appointment?”

Na also criticized Jang’s application, saying, “All he has is a Class 2 driver’s license,” and claiming, “To run the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association, he should have written about severance pay and plans for managing investment assets, but there isn’t a single word about them.” The opposition has labeled Jang a “parachute appointee,” citing his ties to Kim Hyun-ji, head of the Blue House’s First Deputy Office, and others through civic group activities in Seongnam. The day’s dispute, compounded by the failed effort to select company executives as witnesses and controversy over inadequate document submissions, underscored anew the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over the committee’s parliamentary audit.

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