“Ask questions within the scope of the audit”: PPP lawmakers walk out over Ulsan mayor’s response

【Financial News, Ulsan = reporter Choi Soo-sang】 The National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee’s audit of Ulsan City was marred by disruption.
At the audit of Ulsan City held at Ulsan City Hall on the 21st, opposition lawmakers from the People Power Party, angered by Mayor Kim’s manner of responding, walked out en masse. The proceedings were disrupted, and the audit was temporarily suspended.
At the audit that day, questions focused largely on Mayor Kim’s personal YouTube broadcasts, his conflict with the Ulsan City Council, and controversy over political bias involving honorary ambassadors.
Mayor Kim repeatedly countered by stressing that the proviso to Article 7(2) of the Act on State Investigations and the Inspection and Investigation of State Administration defines the scope of an audit as covering matters delegated by the state and projects funded by the state through subsidies and other budgetary support.
The conflict finally erupted during Rep. Joo Ho-young’s questioning. When Joo asked about Ulsan City’s appointment as honorary ambassadors of three entertainers who had supported President Lee Jae-myung, as well as personal allegations such as the controversy over a visit to the Philippines, Mayor Kim did not stay silent.
Mayor Kim again stressed the scope of state investigations and audits, and raised his voice over the Philippines visit controversy, saying, “There is no problem at all, and if the police find no wrongdoing, those who raised the issue must take political responsibility.”
When Rep. Joo then rebuked him, saying, “It’s all a matter of attitude. You should respect others and be humble,” Mayor Kim stood his ground, saying, “An audit session should not become a forum for lecturing the mayor personally.”
Rep. Joo immediately retorted, “Criticizing and lecturing is what an audit is for.” Four PPP lawmakers then abruptly walked out at around 11:10 a.m., saying normal proceedings were impossible given Mayor Kim’s manner of responding. The audit was eventually suspended.

The disruption had been foreseeable from the outset. Earlier, People Power Party Rep. Seo Myeong-ok strongly criticized Mayor Kim’s approach to the media and the city council.
Rep. Seo said, “During a city council plenary session, he posted YouTube comments and even read aloud comments directed at council members, along the lines of ‘you vermin-like city council nobodies.’” She added, “The city council is a sacred space representing Ulsan residents, not a studio for the mayor to broadcast on YouTube.”
She also cited the issuance of a press release containing the Gyeongju mayor’s statement supporting efforts to bring the Energy Resources Corporation to Ulsan, despite the statement being inaccurate, as well as Mayor Kim’s harsh language toward the opposition, and called for neutrality and a serious demeanor befitting a public official.
When Mayor Kim repeatedly asked, “May I respond?” while Rep. Seo was questioning him, she requested a point of order and said, “Mayor Kim seems to think he is still sitting as a member of the National Assembly. He takes a lecturing tone in everything he does,” asking the committee chair to issue a warning.

People Power Party Rep. Kim Ye-ji also took issue with Mayor Kim’s manner of responding. In a point of order, she said, “During my questioning, the mayor kept asking, ‘May I respond?’ more than five times.” She added, “Even though I am clearly speaking, doing this is extremely discourteous, and this is the first time I have had this experience at any city or provincial government audit,” asking the committee chair to issue a warning.
In the end, opposition lawmakers who took issue with Mayor Kim’s manner of responding resorted to a mass walkout.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea pointed to problems with underperforming projects pursued under former Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyum, including the Taehwaru Skywalk and the World Food Culture Center on Ulsan Bridge, and called for improvements.
[email protected] Choi Soo-sang Reporter