National Assembly inspection

The National Assembly inspection or parliamentary inspection of the government offices (국정감사/國政監査) is one of the authority of the National Assembly as stated by the Constitution.

Key words
check and balance, National Assembly, state affairs, inspection and investigation,

Constitutional ground
Based on the principle of check and balance, the National Assembly may inspect overall state affairs, which covers not only the legislation-related activities but also administration and judiciary functions. However, pure private matters including individual privacy and belief are excluded from state affairs. As stated by the Constitution, the National Assembly inspection regards overall affairs of state, while investigation is focused on specific matters of state affairs.

Article 61 of the Constitution
 * (1) The National Assembly may inspect affairs of state or investigate specific matters of state affairs, and may demand production of documents directly related thereto, appearance of a witness in person and furnishing of testimony or statements of opinion.
 * (2) Procedures and other necessary matters concerning inspection and investigation of state administration shall be determined by Act.

Further details shall be provided for in the Act on the Inspection and Investigation of State Government (국정감사 및 조사에 관한 법률).

Article 2 (Inspection)
 * (1) 국회는 국정전반에 관하여 소관 상임위원회별로 매년 정기회 집회일 이전에 감사시작일부터 30일 이내의 기간을 정하여 감사를 실시한다. 다만, 본회의 의결로 정기회 기간 중에 감사를 실시할 수 있다. <개정 2012.3.21>
 * (2) 제1항의 감사는 상임위원장이 국회운영위원회와 협의하여 작성한 감사계획서에 의하여 행한다. 국회운영위원회는 상임위원회간에 감사대상기관이나 감사일정의 중복등 특별한 사정이 있는 때에는 이를 조정할 수 있다.
 * (3), (4) Omitted

Article 3 (Investigation)
 * (1) 국회는 재적의원 4분의 1이상의 요구가 있는 때에는 특별위원회 또는 상임위원회로 하여금 국정의 특정사안에 관하여 조사를 시행하게 한다. <개정 2000.2.16>
 * (2) 제1항의 조사요구는 조사의 목적, 조사할 사안의 범위와 조사를 시행할 위원회등을 기재하여 요구의원이 연서한 서면(이하 "조사요구서"라 한다)으로 하여야 한다.
 * (3) - (6) Omitted

History
The constitutions from the First Republic (1948-1960) to the Third Republic (1962-1972) provided for the general inspection, in which all members were involved, and the specific investigation, which a special committee was commissioned to conduct, of the National Assembly. The Yushin Constitution (유신헌법/維新憲法) of 1972 abolished the parliamentary authority to inspect state affairs on account of the state efficiency and anti-corruption. It was revived as the parliamentary authority to investigate specific state affairs in the constitution of the Fifth Republic (1980-1987).

The Constitution of 1987, which adopted the system of direct election of the President, allowed the National Assembly to inspect and investigate state affairs as before.

In October 1988, attracting the public interest, law-makers questioned government ministers and officials on the various scandals of former President Chun Doo-hwan and his clan including Ilhae Foundation, Saemaul Movement Headquarters, New Generation Education Association, etc. They also inspected a number of human rights violation cases such as Samcheong Training Corps, Park Jong-cheol torture cover-up, Kim Geun-Tae torture case, etc. Other financial scandals in the Chun Doo-hwan Administration involving insolvent enterprises reorganization, Seoul Metropolitan City and Seoul Metro were on the inspection list.

It was 16 years since the National Assembly members investigated the so-called "sanctuary" matters of the Blue House and the Korea CIA. But owing to superficial questioning, insufficient inspection and lobbist efforts toward the representatives, the result could not reach the expectations of the public.

Inspection of State government
Pursuant to the Act, the National Assembly's inspection and investigation list includes the government departments and agencies, Special City, Metropolitan Cities and Provinces, government-invested institutions, Bank of Korea, such other public institutions to be audited by the Board of Audit and Inspection as resolved necessary by the plenary session of the National Assembly.

On demand of the National Assembly, the production of documents, appearance of witnesses in person and furnishing of testimony or statements of opinion are required, and the relevant institutions and persons shall cooperate in such inspection and investigation.

So far 국정감사는 소관 상임위원회별로 매년 정기국회 집회일 이전에 감사시작일부터 30일 이내의 기간을 정하여 감사를 시행하였으나 2012년 3월 법을 개정하여 본회의 의결에 의해 정기회 기간 중에 감사를 실시할 수 있도록 했다. 2014년부터는 상반기와 하반기로 나누어 연 2회 실시한다. 제대로만 실시된다면 상반기 국감에서 지적된 문제점이 제대로 개선됐는지 하반기에 확인할 수 있을 것이다.