Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korea presidential office audit disrupted by lawmakers’ clash
A parliamentary audit of South Korea’s presidential office was repeatedly halted on October 29 after lawmakers clashed.
The dispute centered on People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu, who had said that former leaders Chun Doo-hwan and Yoon Suk Yeol were not involved in an insurrection.
Democratic Party lawmakers demanded an apology and that Kim leave the committee, while Kim refused to apologize and said the audit was about the presidential office, not him.
The clash delayed questioning, which began around 6:30 p.m.
with Kim absent.
People Power Party lawmakers raised allegations of behind-the-scenes influence over appointments linked to people from Gyeonggi and Seongnam.
Presidential office chief Im Gwang-hyeon said appointments followed rules and procedures, while expressing regret.
The audit’s questioning proceeded, but the sources give no further outcome.
A South Korean presidential office audit was repeatedly disrupted on October 29 by a clash between ruling and opposition lawmakers.
The dispute centered on People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu’s remarks about whether former president Chun Doo-hwan and President Yoon Suk Yeol had committed insurrection.
Democratic Party lawmakers demanded that Kim apologize and leave, while Kim refused to apologize and accused them of making an attack to shield the presidential office.
The People Power Party also raised allegations of behind-the-scenes personnel influence linked to Gyeonggi and Seongnam.
Substantive questioning began around 6:30 p.m., with Kim absent.
- Who
- Democratic Party lawmakers and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu clashed during an audit of the presidential office.
- What
- The audit was disrupted by arguments over Kim’s remarks and allegations of behind-the-scenes influence in personnel appointments.
- When
- October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The National Assembly in Seoul, at an audit by its Steering Committee.
- Why
- Democratic lawmakers demanded that Kim apologize over his comments about insurrection. The People Power Party raised personnel-influence allegations involving the Gyeonggi and Seongnam networks.
Democratic Party
Kim Tae-gyu and the People Power Party
Kim’s remarks
Democratic Party
Democratic lawmakers called on Kim to apologize and leave the audit.
Kim Tae-gyu and the People Power Party
Kim refused to apologize, saying the presidential office, not him, was the subject of the audit.
Personnel appointments
Democratic Party
Not stated.
Kim Tae-gyu and the People Power Party
The People Power Party alleged behind-the-scenes influence linked to Gyeonggi and Seongnam.
Characterization of the dispute
Democratic Party
Not stated.
Kim Tae-gyu and the People Power Party
Kim said the Democratic Party’s demands were an unjustified attack to shield the presidential office.
Kim said in a YouTube video that Chun Doo-hwan and Yoon Suk Yeol had not committed insurrection.
The presidential office audit began at the National Assembly.
The audit was adjourned after 1 hour and 55 minutes amid the dispute, then adjourned again nine minutes after resuming.
Substantive questioning began with Kim absent.
- Audit date
- October 29, 2026
- Audit venue
- National Assembly, Seoul
- First adjournment
- 1 hour and 55 minutes after the audit began
- Second adjournment
- Nine minutes after the audit resumed
- Questioning began
- Around 6:30 p.m.
5 sources
What people are saying
The institution under audit is the presidential office, not me.
This is an unjustified offensive to shield the presidential office. They have volunteered to become the regime’s Red Guards.
Appointments are being made in accordance with laws and procedures.