Main opposition boycotts audit of science and broadcasting committee

한국당, 방문진 이사 선임 '반발'...국감 보이콧 검토
We're now two weeks into the National Assembly's audit of state agencies.
It's been fairly smooth-sailing so far,... but today -- we're seeing a delay in one of the standing committees -- as the main opposition party has not participated.
There are concerns they could launch an all-out boycott of the audits -- with about a week remaining.
For more on this and the ongoing audits,... we connect to our parliamentary correspondent Kim Min-ji on the phone.
Min-ji, no progress so far?

Daeun,
The standstill continues at the science and broadcasting committee -- where public broadcasters KBS and EBS were up for screening.
The audit failed to start,... with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party not participating out of objection to director appointments for the Foundation for Broadcast Culture -- the largest shareholder of public broadcaster MBC.
The party has been at odds with the Korea Communications Commission,... the KCC,.. over who gets to recommend the appointment,... as the two directors that resigned were previously nominated by the Liberty Korea Party when it was the ruling bloc.
However, the KCC is firm on its stance saying that now that there's been a change in government,... the current ruling party has the say.
The Liberty Korea Party will be holding an emergency meeting, in about an hour,.... to decide whether they'll launch an all-out boycott of the remaining audits.

Well, keep us posted on any updates.
Audits are underway at the other committees as scheduled. What are some key issues on the table today?

At the industry committee,... rival parties are trading barbs over President Moon Jae-in's pick to head the newly-created Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
The opposition claims Hong Jong-hak,... a former Democratic Party lawmaker,... has no expertise in the field,... and was instead selected thanks to his close ties with the president.
On top of that,... the nominee has come under fire over revelations that his teenage daughter inherited over 710-thousand U.S. dollars of real estate.
Although aides say Hong has paid all the relevant taxes,... the problem is that Hong has long been critical of the rich passing down wealth to their children.
Ten other standing committees are carrying on with their audits of state agencies, or making on-site inspections.
Back to you, Daeun.


Arirang News Facebook:   / arirangtvnews  
------------------------------------------------------------
[Subscribe Arirang Official YouTube]
ARIRANG TV:    / arirang  
ARIRANG RADIO:    / music180arirang  
ARIRANG NEWS:    / arirangnews  
ARIRANG K-POP:    / arirangworld  
ARIRANG ISSUE:    / arirangtoday  
ARIRANG CULTURE:    / arirangkorean  
ARIRANG FOOD & TRAVEL :    / arirangfoodtravel  
------------------------------------------------------------
[Visit Arirang TV Official Pages]
Facebook:   / arirangtv  
Twitter:   / arirangworld  
Instagram:   / arirangworld  
Homepage: http://www.arirang.com
------------------------------------------------------------
[Arirang K-Pop]
YouTube:    / arirangworld  
Facebook:   / arirangkpop  
Google+: http://plus.google.com/+arirangworld