Legislative Gridlock: Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Witness Testimony of Kim Hyun-ji, Halting National Assembly Committee
National Assembly Operations Committee Paralyzed as Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Witness Testimony of Kim Hyun-ji, Presidential Secretary for General Affairs
October 28, 2025 – The National Assembly's Operations Committee was brought to a standstill today as the ruling and opposition parties failed to bridge their sharp differences regarding the attendance of Kim Hyun-ji, Presidential Secretary for General Affairs, as a witness during the parliamentary audit. Analysts say the gridlock was foreseeable, stemming from the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party's conflicting stances on the timing and scope of Kim's testimony.
Floor leaders Moon Jin-seok of the Democratic Party and Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party met at the National Assembly today to focus on the issue of Kim Hyun-ji's witness selection, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. After the meeting, both floor leaders spoke to reporters, each explaining their positions and emphasizing the unacceptability of the other side's claims. In particular, disagreement over the timing of Kim Hyun-ji's appearance casts doubt on the resumption of normal Operations Committee proceedings.
The People Power Party is strongly asserting that Kim Hyun-ji must appear as a witness at the parliamentary audit by 3:00 PM on November 6th. The party argues that Kim Hyun-ji is deeply involved in key presidential issues, and that the parliamentary audit must resolve suspicions related to the presidential office's policy decision-making process. The People Power Party emphasizes that Kim Hyun-ji's appearance as a witness is essential to satisfying the public's right to know and fulfilling the National Assembly's inherent oversight function, urging the Democratic Party's cooperation. If Kim Hyun-ji testifies, she is expected to face a barrage of questions related to the operation of the presidential office, which could have a significant impact on state affairs.
Conversely, the Democratic Party maintains that Kim Hyun-ji should only appear in the morning, as the President is scheduled to have an event at 2:00 PM on November 6th. The Democratic Party emphasizes the inevitability of adjusting Kim Hyun-ji's appearance time to accommodate the President's schedule, arguing that the People Power Party's demands are excessive. The Democratic Party has also requested approximately 50 individuals, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his spouse, former and current chiefs of staff, and national security advisors, to appear as witnesses at the parliamentary audit. The Democratic Party explains that this is to investigate various allegations surrounding the presidential office and ensure transparency in state affairs. The Democratic Party intends to use this parliamentary audit to thoroughly investigate alleged abuses of power and influence by figures close to the President, resolving public suspicions.
The People Power Party has responded in kind, requesting figures like Lee Jang-hyun, Presidential Secretary for Legal Affairs, Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson, Kim Nam-jun, spokesperson, and Kim In-ho, Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, as witnesses. The People Power Party is expected to actively defend the presidential office's position and strive to secure the legitimacy of state affairs in the face of the Democratic Party's offensive. As the ruling and opposition parties clash sharply over the issue of witness selection, there are concerns that conflicts may escalate throughout the National Assembly's operations. In particular, if the confrontation between the parties intensifies ahead of pending issues such as budget deliberations and the handling of key bills, there are concerns that the National Assembly's functions could be paralyzed. Some in the political sphere point out that the ruling and opposition parties should refrain from extreme confrontation and demonstrate cooperation for the sake of public welfare.
Ultimately, the issue of Kim Hyun-ji's witness selection has devolved into a political power struggle between the ruling and opposition parties, drawing criticism that it is undermining the original purpose of the parliamentary audit. The public is demanding that the National Assembly not become mired in political strife, but rather focus on resolving livelihood issues. However, as the ruling and opposition parties remain unyielding in their claims, it is expected that the National Assembly's operations will continue to be disrupted for some time to come. This situation raises concerns that it could deepen public distrust of politics and contribute to a growing negative perception of the National Assembly.
