Politics · South Korea · 13 hrs ago
South Korean lawmaker withdrew company witness summons after funding pledges
South Korean lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong withdrew witness summonses for two company executives after their firms pledged to pay into a fund supporting rural communities.
The executives, from Hanwha and POSCO, had been named as witnesses because their companies had not made expected contributions.
The fund was set up in 2017 to support rural areas affected by the South Korea-US free trade agreement, with a goal of raising 1 trillion won over 10 years.
By this year, voluntary contributions from private companies totaled 328.5 billion won, about a third of that goal.
Critics say using witness summonses this way can pressure companies to contribute, while Yoon says he was asking companies to meet commitments they had already made.
A parliamentary committee is due to consider a bill on November 11 that would set out companies’ efforts to contribute to the fund.
Supporters say the bill would provide a legal basis to encourage contributions, while some worry it could increase pressure on companies.
South Korean lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong withdrew witness requests for executives from Hanwha and POSCO after the companies pledged to contribute to a rural support fund.
Yoon had selected the executives as witnesses for a parliamentary audit because the companies had not made expected contributions.
Critics said using witness summons to press companies for funding risked turning the audit process into a tool of pressure.
Yoon said calling witnesses to urge companies to meet their commitments was normal parliamentary work.
The parliamentary committee was due to consider a bill clarifying companies’ efforts to contribute to the fund.
- Who
- Yoon Jun-byeong, a Democratic Party lawmaker, withdrew the witness requests. The companies were Hanwha and POSCO.
- What
- He withdrew requests to summon company executives to a parliamentary audit after the companies pledged contributions to the Rural Win-Win Cooperation Fund.
- When
- The executives were selected in September 2026, and the requests were withdrawn on October 7, ahead of the audit.
- Where
- South Korea’s National Assembly.
- Why
- The companies pledged to contribute to a fund supporting rural communities affected by the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement.
Yoon Jun-byeong and supporters
Critics of using audit summons to press companies
Use of witness summons
Yoon Jun-byeong and supporters
Yoon said calling executives to urge them to fulfill contribution commitments was normal parliamentary work.
Critics of using audit summons to press companies
Critics said the summons were used to pressure companies into making contributions.
Purpose of the fund
Yoon Jun-byeong and supporters
Supporters said companies that benefited from the trade agreement should contribute to rural communities.
Critics of using audit summons to press companies
Critics raised concern that pressure on companies to contribute would intensify.
Yoon selected Hanwha president Lee Kang-man and POSCO president Lee Hee-geun as witnesses for the parliamentary audit.
Yoon withdrew the witness requests ahead of the audit after both companies pledged fund contributions.
Donga Ilbo reported the withdrawals and Yoon’s defense of his actions.
The committee was scheduled to consider a bill specifying companies’ efforts to contribute to the fund.
- Lawmakers involved
- Yoon Jun-byeong, Democratic Party
- Companies
- Hanwha and POSCO
- Fund target
- 1 trillion won over 10 years, with an annual goal of 100 billion won
- Raised by 2026
- 328.5 billion won in voluntary private-company contributions
- Withdrawal date
- October 7, 2026
What people are saying
If they did not fulfill this year’s payment plan promised last year, shouldn’t we tell them to pay? If they paid, there would be no reason to request them as witnesses.
I think I carried out very normal parliamentary work.
Every year during the parliamentary audit, lawmakers have urged them in a way similar to begging, threatening and browbeating them to secure part of the fund.