Chief Auditor Pledges Agency’s Independence
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
Kim Hwang-sik, chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), said Tuesday that he will do his utmost to keep the agency impartial and free from potential political influence.
``During my tenure as the new head of the audit board, our agency will strive to contribute to the public's welfare and uphold laws and principles,'' Kim said at a press conference held at the agency's head office in Seoul.
He emphasized the BAI's mandated role of auditing government entities' accounting practices and work performance. ``And when we look into allegations of corruption by government officials and workers, we will examine every detail no matter who we look at. I assure you nothing will be sacred in our reviews and audits.''
The chief auditor said that his agency will work towards finding and helping to eliminate regulatory red tape in a bid to boost Korea's national competitiveness.
Kim said, ``If these audits are influenced by political considerations or lose their impartiality in any way, we will end up losing the public's trust.
``During my tenure, I will ensure that the agency stays free of any political influence or political pressure. We will maintain our independence and neutrality.''
He observed that there have been some concerns raised regarding the BAI's true independence, particularly because the agency still falls under the jurisdiction of the presidential office.
He added that he and his staff will look at possibly proposing ways to further safeguard the BAI's impartiality as part of a constitutional amendment in the future.
``We will conduct audits that will contribute to the well-being of our nation,'' Kim said, adding that the new audits will uphold laws and principles and help improve the public's welfare.
The board will also strengthen audits and reviews for examining regulations in the nation's construction and services sectors, he said.