By Jun Ji-hye
Kim Ki-choon, President Park Geun-hye's chief of staff, was under scrutiny Thursday by opposition lawmakers for his alleged excessive power in dealing with state affairs.
In an audit of Cheong Wa Dae, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) claimed that Kim unilaterally decides on nominees for high-ranking government positions and in remote-controlling the stonewalling of the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) alleged intervention in the 2012 presidential election.
Kim, a previous member of a private counsel team of President Park, appeared before the National Assembly, together with Kim Chang-soo, chief of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office.
Rep. Chang Ha-na of the DP argued a considerable number of those, who were appointed as chiefs of government offices in the Park administration, have past relations with the President.
"I believes this is because Kim, the closest confident of President Park, has his own way in personnel affairs," she said, adding that Park broke her election pledge that promised she would stay away from cronyism.
Opposition lawmakers also argued that they found out, during parliamentary confirmation hearings, that the latest nominees, Hwang Chan-hyun, a nominee to head the Board of Audit and Inspection; Kim Jin-tae for prosecutor general; and Moon Hyung-pyo for minister of health and welfare, were unqualified to assume the proposed positions.
"It seems that Cheong Wa Dae has not properly reviewed the qualifications of such nominees before naming them," said Rep. Hong Ihk-pyp, claiming Kim should take responsibility.
Ratcheting up their criticism, DP members took an issue with the alleged NIS election interference scandal.
The chief of staff Kim, 73, a well-known "public security" prosecutor, has been embroiled in suspicions that he played a key role in removing former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, who was said to be unpopular with Cheong Wa Dae for his intense investigation into the NIS.
The controversy further escalated after senior prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol was removed from the special team probing the NIS case. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said Yoon did not follow proper procedure. But Yoon claimed external pressure was applied to his team, indicating the justice ministry and the presidential office as being responsible.
In response, the presidential chief of staff said President Park would make an apology regarding the NIS incident, if that becomes necessary.
Commenting on criticism about personnel affairs, Kim said, "Cheong Wa Dae is focusing on professionalism, morality and patriotism when selecting candidates."
He added, "I am solely to blame for all controversy regarding myself and Cheong Wa Dae."
Meanwhile, the DP said it would agree on appointing Hwang Chan-hyun and Kim Jin-tae as heads of the state auditor and prosecution, respectively, if Moon Hyung-pyo, the nominee for health minister, steps down from consideration.
Rep. Kim Sung-ju of the DP claimed that Moon privately misused a corporation credit card while working at the Korea Development Institute.
Kim Ki-choon, President Park Geun-hye's chief of staff, was under scrutiny Thursday by opposition lawmakers for his alleged excessive power in dealing with state affairs.
In an audit of Cheong Wa Dae, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) claimed that Kim unilaterally decides on nominees for high-ranking government positions and in remote-controlling the stonewalling of the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) alleged intervention in the 2012 presidential election.
Kim, a previous member of a private counsel team of President Park, appeared before the National Assembly, together with Kim Chang-soo, chief of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office.
Rep. Chang Ha-na of the DP argued a considerable number of those, who were appointed as chiefs of government offices in the Park administration, have past relations with the President.
"I believes this is because Kim, the closest confident of President Park, has his own way in personnel affairs," she said, adding that Park broke her election pledge that promised she would stay away from cronyism.
Opposition lawmakers also argued that they found out, during parliamentary confirmation hearings, that the latest nominees, Hwang Chan-hyun, a nominee to head the Board of Audit and Inspection; Kim Jin-tae for prosecutor general; and Moon Hyung-pyo for minister of health and welfare, were unqualified to assume the proposed positions.
"It seems that Cheong Wa Dae has not properly reviewed the qualifications of such nominees before naming them," said Rep. Hong Ihk-pyp, claiming Kim should take responsibility.
Ratcheting up their criticism, DP members took an issue with the alleged NIS election interference scandal.
The chief of staff Kim, 73, a well-known "public security" prosecutor, has been embroiled in suspicions that he played a key role in removing former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, who was said to be unpopular with Cheong Wa Dae for his intense investigation into the NIS.
The controversy further escalated after senior prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol was removed from the special team probing the NIS case. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said Yoon did not follow proper procedure. But Yoon claimed external pressure was applied to his team, indicating the justice ministry and the presidential office as being responsible.
In response, the presidential chief of staff said President Park would make an apology regarding the NIS incident, if that becomes necessary.
Commenting on criticism about personnel affairs, Kim said, "Cheong Wa Dae is focusing on professionalism, morality and patriotism when selecting candidates."
He added, "I am solely to blame for all controversy regarding myself and Cheong Wa Dae."
Meanwhile, the DP said it would agree on appointing Hwang Chan-hyun and Kim Jin-tae as heads of the state auditor and prosecution, respectively, if Moon Hyung-pyo, the nominee for health minister, steps down from consideration.
Rep. Kim Sung-ju of the DP claimed that Moon privately misused a corporation credit card while working at the Korea Development Institute.
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