Kim Ho-cheol vows citizen-centered audits, accountability for past abuses

Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Kim Ho-cheol said Monday that the agency had reviewed audit cases previously embroiled in controversy over targeted and coercive practices, and had pursued institutional reforms including the abolition of the Special Investigation Bureau and the strengthening of internal controls. "Proceedings are currently underway to hold those responsible strictly accountable," he said.

Kim made the remarks in his opening address at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's national audit. He added that the agency planned to "consistently review areas where further improvement is needed."

The comments came as BAI Commissioner Yoo Byung-ho remains in detention on charges of suppressing an audit related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence relocation, prompting Kim to address the status of institutional reforms and accountability proceedings tied to past controversies over targeted and coercive audits.

Kim presented "audits trusted by the people, a BAI that stands upright" as the agency's new operational direction. "We are shifting the overall paradigm of audit operations toward enhancing the welfare of the people — the ultimate beneficiaries of audits — and are transforming all audits to be centered on the public," he said.

Kim also said the agency was working to support proactive conduct among public officials. "We are holding proactive-administration forums to communicate with the public sector so that officials can worry less about after-the-fact liability and work more actively for the people," he said. He added that the agency had expanded the presumptive scope of immunity for proactive conduct to cover BAI audits and broadened eligibility for advance consulting requests to include private associations with a public interest dimension.

"The attentive criticism and advice that committee members offer during this national audit will be reflected more faithfully in the future operations of the Board of Audit and Inspection," Kim said.