The National Assembly Steering Committee clashed sharply along party lines on the 21st as the People Power Party argued that President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung should be called as witnesses in a parliamentary audit of the Presidential Office. The ruling Democratic Party rejected the demand as "a groundless and absurd claim."
The opposition said the ruling party's refusal to accept witnesses "has gone too far," insisting that former chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, former policy chief Kim Yong-beom and senior presidential secretary Kim Hyun-ji be summoned alongside the presidential couple. The demand was not accepted. The committee decided to conduct its audit of the Presidential Office over only half a day on the afternoon of the 29th.
At a full committee meeting on the 21st, members reviewed and voted on requests for witness attendance and revisions to the audit plan. The committee will conduct audits of the Presidential Office, the National Security Office and the National Assembly on the 29th and 30th, after most standing committees have completed their audits. On the 29th, the National Human Rights Commission will be audited in the morning, followed by the Presidential Office, the National Security Office and the Presidential Security Service in the afternoon. Audits of National Assembly affiliates will take place on the 30th.
Rep. Yoon Yong-keun of the People Power Party said Lee is in his 17th month in office but "still insists on staying at the Hannam-dong residence." He asked whether the move was being delayed out of fear of a superstition circulating publicly that "whoever moves into the Blue House residence meets misfortune." Only the president and Kim, who would move into the residence with him, know the real reason, he said. "That is why we requested the president or the first lady as a witness, and it was refused," he said. "The more the Democratic Party blocks these witnesses, the more the public suspects something."
As the request for the couple's testimony was raised, committee chair Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party floor leader, cut Yoon off. "I am not sure I heard that correctly. Are you saying we should call the president and the first lady as witnesses?" he said. "You cannot make such a groundless and absurd claim. I will firmly cut off groundless claims."
Yoon protested loudly after being cut off. Rep. Lee Sang-hwi of the People Power Party backed him, saying there should be no untouchable areas in a parliamentary audit and that requesting the president or the first lady as a witness is possible when there are allegations. "Wasn't first lady Kim Keon-hee summoned in 2024? It is the Democratic Party that is turning this into politics," he said.
The Democratic Party pushed back, calling the demand nonsense. Rep. Lim Mi-ae said she was lost for words at such a far-fetched argument. "The president's spouse is not a public official and has no legal authority over official duties," she said. "If there is something you want to ask, call the secretary in charge." Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the same party called the demand preposterous. "At first they told us to ask Kim Keon-hee why she had the presidential residence moved, and now they are arguing that both Kim Keon-hee and Kim Hye-kyung should be called. Have they cut Kim Keon-hee loose now?"
Demands also continued for witness status for Kim Hyun-ji, who is not subject to audit attendance, and for Kang and Kim Yong-beom, who have both left the Presidential Office. Rep. Lee Sang-hwi said the facts must be established regarding alleged personnel interference by what he called the "Seongnam line," including Kim Hyun-ji and Jung Jin-sang. "Those facing allegations should come forward and speak openly," he said. Rep. Choi Eun-seok of the People Power Party said tax accountants working at a tax firm run by Kim Hyun-ji's husband had been hired one after another by affiliates linked to a financial holding company. "There are indications that Kim intervened in personnel decisions," he said, requesting her as a witness. He added that "tens of trillions of won in public assets and hundreds of trillions of won in National Pension Service assets have been wiped out" under Kim Yong-beom, and said he "must be called as a witness." Rep. Kim Seung-soo of the same party, requesting Kang as a witness, said Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun has been in the post for less than a month. "The policy chief and chief of staff who were serving at the time can come and give accountable answers," he said.
Rep. Kim Han-kyu of the Democratic Party countered that the government "is not a corner store." "Even at small and midsize companies, people hand over their duties before leaving," he said. "Their successors are up to speed, so ask them, and if they are not properly briefed, then take them to task." Rep. Jeon Eun-su of the Democratic Party rejected the request for Kim Hyun-ji's attendance, saying a senior secretary should not be summoned on the basis of hearsay. "Do not run on rumor. Conduct the audit with precision," she said.
Despite the exchanges, none of the witnesses sought by the opposition were accepted. Han said there had been no case of adopting ordinary witnesses or references beyond institutional witnesses, apart from the exceptional case of first lady Kim Keon-hee in 2024, and that predecessors called as witnesses would have nothing they could answer because of their duty to maintain official confidentiality. He then closed the debate and put the witness list to a vote.