Heads and executives of conglomerates including Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-koo and SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won make up nearly 70 out of 130 witnesses named by the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly. Until Tuesday, the ruling and the opposition parties were still negotiating whether to include the CEOs of all oil companies, department stores, and banks on the witness list.

Former Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee and his son Jae-yong, a senior vice president of Samsung Electronics, and Cho Suk-rae, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, are frequent witnesses at the annual parliamentary audit. According to the Article 10 of the parliamentary audit law, anybody who is approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has to appear as witness.

The change of government is seen as the main reason why both parties are trying especially hard to appoint corporate leaders as witnesses. “The opposition Democratic Party still wants to exert influence over companies after its status changed from a ruling to an opposition party,” said a second-term Grand National Party lawmaker. “And the GNP wants to show off its power as the ruling party and wants to discipline the business sector.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )