Seoul: The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has initiated an impeachment motion against Choe Jae-hae, the Chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), during a parliamentary plenary session on Monday. This move has set the stage for the opposition-controlled National Assembly to vote on the impeachment later this week.According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the motion at the forthcoming plenary session on Wednesday. By law, such a motion must be addressed within 24 to 72 hours of being reported. This marks a significant event, as it is the first instance of an impeachment motion being raised against the head of the BAI in the National Assembly.The Democratic Party has pushed for Choe's impeachment, citing inadequacies in the BAI's investigation of alleged irregularities tied to the 2022 relocation of the presidential office, an action that aligned with President Yoon Suk Yeol's campaign pledge. The party also criticized Choe for his refusal to comply with a parliamentary request for documents related to the audit.Furthermore, the DP has reported impeachment motions against Lee Chang-soo, the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, along with two other top prosecutors. They are accused of not indicting first lady Kim Keon Hee despite allegations of her involvement in stock price manipulation.In response, senior BAI official Choi Dal-young expressed his dismay in a press release, calling the impeachment attempt "politically motivated" and detrimental to the constitutional order. He emphasized that the BAI has diligently performed its duties, ensuring political neutrality and independence, and pledged to uphold constitutional values despite any external pressures.
- October 12, 2026
