Chairman Lee Ki-heung's request for attendance of a pending questionnaire on November 11 'Witness'On the spot of the National Assembly inspection]

Oct 25, 2024

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee called on Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korean Sports and Tourism Committee, 're-recall' by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

Chairman Lee did not attend the comprehensive audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 24th. Chairman Lee submitted a letter of reason for his absence, citing his attendance at the business agreement ceremony for the establishment of a youth sports complex in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, at 11 a.m. that day. Park Jung-ha, a member of the People's Power Party who is the "ruling party secretary", said "There was no prior consultation at all."He said he would not tolerate it, and lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties immediately decided to issue an accompanying order to Chairman Lee, but Chairman Lee did not appear at the parliamentary inspection that continued after 1 a.m. on the 25th.

Rep. Park Jung-ha, Rep. Kim Seung-soo, and Rep. Jin Jong-oh all voiced their opinions. Rep. Jin Jong-oh disappeared after submitting a statement of reasons for his absence despite being a witness to the parliamentary audit. The order was issued by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, but they played hide-and-seek all day long." It was also reported in an interview with the Kangwon Ilbo that he apologized for his rude talk to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but after checking with a reporter, Chairman Lee said he unilaterally talked on the phone and hung up on him. He criticized the act of `ignoring and deceiving the National Assembly' and"to formally apologize and take responsibility in public.'

Rep. Park Jung-ha said, `Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, has not answered so far, and there is a lot to check… It can only be seen as belittling the stylist." "I propose to inquire about pending issues of the Korea Sports Council at the plenary session of the subcommittee on bills and to vote on having Chairman Lee attend as an institutional witness..." he said. Rep. Park also strongly questioned Yoon Sung-wook, secretary-general of the Korea Sports Council, who attended instead of Chairman Lee. Asked if Chairman Lee Ki-heung consulted with the president that he would not attend the audit, President Yoon suggested that he should come. (The chairman) said he would judge on his own." "I'm looking for the chairman's whereabouts, but I didn't make a direct call. The employees said they couldn't reach me well when they contacted me. I don't know what to say," he said, expressing his difficult position.

In the end, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties decided to call back Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council. Chairman Jeon Jae-soo of the Culture and Sports Committee held a general meeting on the 11th of next month that proposed 'Request for Appearance of Witnesses of pending issues' and decided to proceed with 'Asking of pending issues related to the Korean Sports Council'. Kim Seung-soo, Bae Hyun-jin, Shin Dong-wook, Jeong Yeon-wook, and Jin Jong-oh, including secretary Park Jung-ha, applied for chairman Lee Ki-heung as a witness.

Reporter Jeon Young-ji sky4us@sportschosun.com

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sky4us@sportschosun.com