By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) condemned Kim Hwang-sik, nominee for chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), Tuesday, for currying favor with President Lee Myung-bak.
At a non-binding National Assembly hearing, they claimed Kim was involved in the BAI's probe of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) in July, even before his nomination was confirmed.
They alleged that the BAI team had not followed internal rules in the investigation in an attempt to side with President Lee who was allegedly seeking to put the national broadcaster under his influence.
After ending the probe, the state auditors advised the KBS board of directors in early August to dismiss then KBS President Jung Yun-joo. The board members followed the advice and recommended Jung's dismissal.
Shortly afterwards Lee dismissed Jung, who was indicted for breach of trust.
During the hearing, DP lawmaker Park Sun-sook claimed that the BAI team began the preliminary investigation even before the plan was approved. ``There are also several elements suggesting the investigation was flawed and politically motivated.''
Park argued the probe, that did not followed due process, would tarnish the image of the state auditors who were supposed to be independent and non-partisan.
Another DP lawmaker Ahn Byu-back accused the BAI chief-designate of resigning from his six-year Supreme Court justice term after just three years in order to chair the BAI. Kim was nominated for the chief auditor post on July 7.
Based on Kim's past, Ahn said he was highly likely to be a comptroller who would do anything to curry favor with the President for his own sake.
Members of the hearing will make a decision on whether or not they recommend President Lee appoint Kim after the two-day hearing which ends today.
Other lawmakers also held separate sessions to review the eligibility of the agriculture and education ministers, who were appointed to posts last month without having confirmation hearings.
The Assembly failed to meet the deadline of hearings set by law due to inter-party disputes over the resumption of U.S. beef imports. President Lee's appointment of his picks followed after the deadline.
DP lawmakers accused Ahn Byoung-man, minister of education, science and technology, of inappropriate demeanor as a university president.
Ahn allegedly received 20 million won, whose purpose was not specified, from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies when he left the university.
The education minister was also embroiled in allegations that he misused part of the university budget to play golf with his acquaintances.