ULSAN — A parliamentary audit of the Ulsan city government broke down on the 21st after a clash over Mayor Kim Sang-wook's personal YouTube activity, past remarks and the way he answered questions. When People Power Party lawmakers pressed Kim on his conduct and his management of city affairs, the mayor pushed back by citing the scope of audits set out in the law governing parliamentary inspections, prompting opposition lawmakers to walk out together.
At the audit held on the 21st by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, PPP members including Seo Myung-ok and Joo Ho-young raised questions about Kim's personal YouTube broadcasts, his political leanings and his disputes with local media and the city council.
Seo, who opened the questioning, pointed to Kim's appearance on a YouTube program in which he made harsh remarks about a news organization official, as well as his comments shortly after taking office about reviewing publicity spending at local news outlets. "He posts YouTube comments during city council sessions and reads out comments that disparage council members, treating the council as something to mock rather than a partner in governance," Seo said. "On major issues such as the merger of the Ulsan Port Authority and the dispute with Gyeongju over attracting a state-run energy company, he has failed to show the weight expected of an administrator."
Kim responded by saying that under Article 7 of the Act on the Inspection and Investigation of State Administration, audits of local governments are limited to state-delegated affairs and projects funded by national subsidies or other central government budgets. "What you have asked about does not fall under the scope of this audit, so I am at a loss as to what answer I should give," he said.
A heated exchange followed with Joo, who questioned next. Joo noted that Kim had taken the unusual step for a local government head of applying for permission to hold a concurrent position in order to run a personal YouTube channel, and warned that the city's staff and resources must not be mobilized for a private broadcast. He also raised concerns about undermining civic unity, noting that the entertainers recently appointed as Ulsan publicity ambassadors all have no ties to the city and lean toward a particular political persuasion.
Kim said the appointments were made with nationwide publicity capacity in mind ahead of the International Horticulture Expo, but added: "I understand that appointments of publicity ambassadors are not subject to this audit. The audit should not become a venue for lecturing the mayor personally, and I hope it proceeds in line with the purpose of the law."
When Joo went on to mention a past controversy over Kim's ties to a law firm and allegations concerning his personal background, Kim raised his voice and said there was no problem at all, adding that if police clear him of wrongdoing, those who raised the allegations should bear political responsibility.
Joo rebuked the mayor, saying he should respect others and be humble and that his attitude was a problem. Kim did not back down, saying lawmakers should confine their criticism to matters specified in the law as subject to audit.
PPP lawmakers, incensed by Kim's attitude, ultimately demanded that the audit be suspended and stormed out. The head of the audit team tried to defuse the situation, saying that because local government grants and national funding are broadly included in Ulsan's overall budget, the mayor should answer lawmakers' questions comprehensively and in good faith. The opposition lawmakers walked out as a group.