2026.10.13. The Fair Economy — Members of the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on over the political neutrality of the Board of Audit and Inspection during a National Assembly Judiciary Committee audit hearing. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea demanded personnel renewal of the 'Taigeo Pa (Tigerpa)' faction, which it said led 'targeted audits' during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. The People Power Party criticized the bias of audit commissioners appointed under the Lee Jae-myeong administration, calling the board the 'Tang dynasty Board of Audit and Inspection.'
The National Assembly Judiciary Committee held an audit hearing at the Board of Audit and Inspection in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 12th, focusing on the political neutrality of audit commissioners and the results of an audit of the Supreme Court of Korea.
On that day, Park Ji-won, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, referred to Kim Yeong-sin, an auditor, as "Taigeo Pa (Tigerpa) deputy head" and "Yoo Byeong-ho lackey", demanding his voluntary resignation. Kim Yeong-sin responded, saying, "Taigeo Pa (Tigerpa) has nothing to do with me," and calling the remarks "insulting words".
Lawmaker Park Gyun-taek asked Audit Commissioner Kim Ho-cheol, "Did you carry out a personnel renewal of the Tigerpa that eroded trust through targeted and protective audits?" Commissioner Kim replied, "We are thoroughly holding them accountable," and added, "Factions are absolutely not permitted."
People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyeon pointed out that audit member Lim Seon-suk served as a top committee member during Lee Jae-myeong's tenure as party leader, and audit member Lee Jin-guk was a former secretary for the judicial system at the Blue House, arguing that it is "not a people's audit office but a Tang dynasty Audit Office."
A dispute also arose over the cash incentives paid to Supreme Court justices and the head of the Court Administration Office. Lawmaker Kim Han-gyu criticized the Board of Audit and Inspection's "caution" measure as "a leniency not even at the level of a pillow," while Commissioner Kim explained that "he could not verify the specific usage details."
Lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom stated, "It appears that cash was delivered to the justices through the Supreme Court chief's secretariat," and questioned, "Is it plausible that the secretariat chief and secretary claim they were unaware after stamping the documents?" Commissioner Kim replied, "The entity responsible for paying the incentives is the head of the institution."
People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Gyu-taek noted that, while the first-instance trial over alleged real‑estate statistics manipulation is ongoing, it is inappropriate for the Board of Audit and Inspection to indict and discipline the original audit officials. Lawmaker Park Hyeong-su also criticized, "Is it acceptable to handle the same issue one way at this time and another way at another time?"
Commissioner Kim rebutted that the board did not overturn previous audit findings but uncovered new issues during the audit process, such as coercion, inducement, and violations of digital forensics procedures. He added that the follow‑up investigation secured detailed testimonies and additional documents from the audited parties at the time.
Former Board of Audit and Inspection Secretary-General Yoo Byeong-ho, identified as a core figure in the internal faction 'Taigeo Pa (Tigerpa),' served as Secretary-General from 2022 to 2024 during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. On July 20, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for him on suspicion of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for allegedly directing that an in-person investigation of the interior company '21 Grams,' which was involved with First Lady Kim Geon-hui during the audit of the presidential residence relocation, be replaced with a written investigation, and for shrinking and concealing audit results.
The special prosecutor obtained a note from his mobile phone referring to former President Yoon as a "boss." Critics argued that this exemplified how the Board of Audit and Inspection's top decision‑maker had become a "bodyguard" for the regime. It was also reported that this is the first time a sitting audit member has been detained for illegal official conduct.
Since the launch of the Lee Jae-myeong administration, the BAI has been conducting its own investigations and reform efforts into matters that were suspected of being 'targeted audits' during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. At the audit on this day, Chair Kim stated that through the 'Unyeong Swaesin TF (Operation Renewal TF)' and the 'Gukjeong Josa Husok Jochi TF (National Investigation Follow-up Measures TF),' accountability for coercive and illegal audits is being pursued.
Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection enacted an amendment to its audit handling regulations in December of last year, limiting the scope of audits on government policy decisions to "illegal and corrupt acts." This was interpreted as a measure to break the vicious cycle of "policy audits" that has recurred with each change of administration.
The "targeted audit" allegations against the Board of Audit and Inspection during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration led to a criminal investigation. The Second Special Counsel team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-yeong, on August 19 filed non‑custodial indictments against former Audit Administration Director Choi Mo-ssi and former First Division Chief Son Mo-ssi on charges of abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties, and unlawful disclosure of state secrets, in connection with the alleged cover‑up of the presidential residence relocation audit.
The special counsel team said it confirmed circumstances in which the officials distorted evidence and statements to maintain the existing audit conclusions even after the audit committee deferred its decision, and manipulated the assignment of the presiding audit commissioner.
In connection with the Seohae Gongmuwon Pigyeok Sageon (West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident), the Board of Audit and Inspection abruptly announced the launch of an audit the day after the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defence reversed their earlier 'defection' announcement in June 2022. At last year's audit, then-Secretary General Yoo Byeong-ho sparked controversy by saying he decided to conduct the audit while watching TV in the early morning.
At this year's national audit, People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyeon questioned the Board of Audit and Inspection for having stated last year that a re‑examination was unnecessary, then changing its stance this year. Commissioner Kim explained that "new facts were uncovered during the national investigation process."
The Board of Audit and Inspection announced in its August self‑investigation that, concerning the alleged real‑estate statistics manipulation during the Moon Jae-in administration, the audit process under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration involved coercive investigations and illegal digital forensics. It said it would indict nine related staff members and pursue severe disciplinary measures against ten others. In response, People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Gyu-taek said, "They rushed in to overturn the case while the trial is ongoing," criticizing the board as becoming more political.
The Board of Audit and Inspection's overturning of audit results is not unprecedented. Controversies over audit results have repeated with each change of administration, and audit conclusions have often differed on politically sensitive issues. At this audit hearing as well, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the appropriateness of overturning audit results regarding the West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident and suspicions of real estate statistics manipulation.
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