Woo Byung-woo did not attend audit and mocked the public

The Presidential Office's Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo failed to attend an audit session by the National Assembly's House Steering Committee on Friday. Woo previously submitted a written excuse slip to Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the ruling Saenuri Party, chair of an Assembly committee for the session, that he cannot attend the audit. It was told that he wrote reasons of absence in the statement that his official responsibilities include a quick response to public affairs and that prosecutors’ investigation on some allegations against him is underway. However, his absence only proves that he has been under the protection of President Park Geun-hye like “sanctuary” even after a series of allegations were churned out about Woo over the last half year following the scandal involving the former Chief Prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon.

The People's Party floor leader Park Jie-won even went on that he wanted to “see his face,” at the very least. Not only for Park, but also for the general public, Woo must show up and make his statement about allegations surrounding him. The public surely deserves his presence at the audit. When former Senior Civil Affairs Secretary Kim Young-han did not attend the audit and resigned last year amid the scandal centered on Chung Yoon Hoe, Park Geun-hye commented he should have attended the audit and made his statement, expressing some regret at his behavior. But, for this time, she is different and it seems that Woo is enjoying some privileges from the president unlike his predecessor. The government cannot be more wrong.

Even worse, the Saenuri Party has not made any particular actions against Woo while trying to protect him like a bulletproof vest. Chung demanded Woo’s presence in the audit, saying presidential advisors are servants of the public. In the meantime, his reaction to adopting a motion to recommend him to stand was very quiet. In the absence of Saenuri Chairman Lee Jung-hyun, who is touring several regions across the country alone to have a closer look at the lives of the public, Chung’s rhetoric sounds hollow in the audit. Even Saenuri members are complaining that Lee is trying to avoid making a statement on sensitive issues.

Approval rating of Park dropped 1 percentage point to 25 percent, hitting all-time low. If the number falls below 20 percent, she may not be able to exert the needed energy and influence to steer her administration. Surprisingly, for the first time since Park took the presidency, the Minjoo Party earned the same level of rating with that of the Saenuri Party, both parties gained 29 percent. That can be blamed on a lack of communication with Park. The audit ended without Woo’s presence. His next step is unknown. This is a testament that the Park administration is ignorant of the public’s feeling.

박제균논설위원 phark@donga.com