Lee Jin-suk barred from KCC audit as opposition-led committee votes for recusal

The National Assembly's Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communications Committee voted Monday to bar People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk from the national audit of the Korea Communications Commission, with opposition-aligned parties leading the motion. The Democratic Party of Korea and its allies argued that decisions Lee made during her tenure as KCC chair were among the matters under audit, creating a potential conflict of interest. The PPP rejected the grounds for recusal and Lee said she would formally challenge the vote.

The committee convened a plenary session during the audit and put the recusal motion to a secret ballot. All 12 members who participated voted in favor. PPP lawmakers did not take part in the vote.

Under the National Assembly's audit and investigation rules, a lawmaker may be recused from an audit or investigation if they have a direct interest in the agency being audited or if there are significant grounds to doubt their impartiality.

The Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party and other opposition-aligned parties called for the motion to be placed on the agenda, arguing that Lee faced a conflict of interest because decisions she made and work she carried out as KCC chair were included in the day's audit subjects.

The PPP pushed back, saying the National Assembly had already determined that Lee's assignment to the committee did not constitute a conflict of interest and that there were no grounds for recusal.

Committee Chairman Song Ki-heon of the Democratic Party suggested before the motion was tabled that Lee should recuse herself. "This constitutes a conflict of interest," Song said. "Would it not be appropriate for you to step aside from the audit of the Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Communications Standards Commission?" Lee declined, saying she had no intention of recusing herself.

At the Democratic Party's request, a motion to change the agenda to allow the recusal vote was submitted and passed 12 votes in favor to five abstentions. The subsequent recusal vote passed with 12 votes in favor.

Before the vote, Lee said she did not believe her past service as KCC chair constituted grounds for recusal or avoidance during a national audit. "Forcing me out by a vote simply because Democratic Party members are in the majority is an abuse of that majority and, I believe, Democratic Party dictatorship," she said.

She added that even if the committee voted to recuse her, a challenge would require a full plenary vote of the National Assembly, signaling she intended to contest the decision.

Under the Act on the Inspection and Investigation of State Administration, once a recusal motion passes, the lawmaker in question must be removed from the audit or investigation and another member must take over. However, if the recused lawmaker files an objection, the matter must go to a plenary vote of the National Assembly, meaning the issue could come before the full chamber.