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People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok (third from left) and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Ki-heon (second from left) clash physically at the National Assembly’s steering committee audit session on November 6, following heated exchanges over presidential aide Kim Hyun-ji. / Source: Song Ui-joo, Yonhap News

A heated parliamentary audit of President Lee Jae-myung’s presidential office on November 6 erupted into chaos as ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed over conflicts of interest and the attendance of Kim Hyun-ji, the presidential secretary for the first lady’s office. The confrontation briefly halted the session and even led to a physical altercation.

Tensions first flared when Democratic Party lawmaker Chae Hyun-il accused People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who previously served as a legal secretary in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office, of having a conflict of interest.

“Today’s audit covers the Yoon administration’s presidential office and the December 3 martial law probe. Rep. Joo’s presence here raises serious conflict concerns — his proper seat is among the agencies being audited,” Chae said.

Joo shot back, saying, “Because I’m questioning Kim Hyun-ji’s alleged misconduct, the Democratic Party is trying to gag me. I left the presidential office 22 months ago and even attended this same committee session last year. Among you sits one of President Lee Jae-myung’s former defense attorneys.” The exchange soon escalated into shouting between the two sides.

With tensions mounting, Committee Chair Kim Byung-ki suspended the session barely an hour after it began.

During the recess, chaos spilled into the corridor. Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Ki-heon physically collided in what witnesses described as a “body-slam” (“baechigi”) confrontation, heightening the standoff between the parties.

Both lawmakers later held separate press conferences blaming each other for the altercation. The audit resumed roughly 30 minutes later, when Rep. Lee addressed the session, saying, “I don’t want to cause further disturbance over this matter,” and expressed “deep personal regret,” allowing proceedings to stabilize.