(from left) Chairman Yoon Hoo-deok of the Strategy and Finance Committee,; Chairman Youn Kwan-suk of the National Policy Committee,; Rep. Byun Jae-il of the ruling Democratic Party,; Chairman Min Hong-chul of the National Defense Committee.

(from left) Chairman Song Young-gil of of the Foreign Affairs Committee,; Chairman Lee Kai-ho of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee,; Chairman Kim Min-suk of the Health and Welfare Committee,; Chairman Do Jong-hwan of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee.

(from left) Chairman Lee Hak-young of the Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Company, and Startup Committee,; Chairperson Song Ok-joo of the Environment and Labor Committee,; Chairperson Jin Sun-mi of the Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee. (Photos: The National Assembly)

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over major pending issues such as snowballing fund scandals involving politicians and others.

The parliamentary audit of government agencies started on Oct. 7 and is to last through Oct. 26.

Chairman Yoon Hoo-deok of the Strategy and Finance Committee focused his committee’s audit into the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) and other government agencies on issues related to people’s lives, saying that the Korean and global economic situations are stark, being buffeted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are struggling.

The Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Company, and Startup Committee, headed by Chairman Lee Hak-young, had a plenary session to audit Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) and seven others on Oct. 19, and passed a resolution to support Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, who is vying for the top job of the World Trade Organization.

The Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, led by Chairperson Jin Sun-mi, launched its audit into Korea Appraisal Board and others on Oct. 19, concerning the government’s Aug. 4 steps to solve jeonse shortages and other real estate issues.

The Health and Welfare Committee, headed by Chairman Kim Min-suk, conducted its audit into National Health Insurance Service and others on Oct. 20, querying President Moon Jae-in’s care and free testing and treating of COVID-19 patients.

The Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee started its audit of 37 government agencies and public organizations on Oct. 7.

The committee, headed by Chairman Lee Kai-ho, will continue its interpellation through Oct. 26. The committee excluded local government bodies in its audit and minimized those who testified before the committee due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Rep. Byun Jae-il of the ruling Democratic Party proposed that an IT ambassador in charge of science technology and ICT be inaugurated, citing a global fierce completion to secure advanced science technologies such as 5G and AI as well as the need for expanding global cooperation in the wake of the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic and other global issues.

Rep. Byun made the proposal at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communication Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) on Oct. 6.

Rep. At the audit, conducted by the committee, headed by Chairman Lee Won-wook, Byun told MSIT Minister Choi Ki-young MSIT and Korea Communications Commission fully support the issue, proposed by the Foreign Ministry.