The National Assembly’s annual audit of the government is set to begin later this week amid controversy over the cause of April’s deadly ferry sinking and the government’s plan to increase tobacco taxes, among other issues.
The audit is scheduled to kick off Tuesday for a 20-day run, with a record 672 government agencies subject to the inspection.
However, the large number of agencies and the lack of preparation caused in part by a monthslong stand-off between rival political parties have led to doubts about whether the audit will fulfill its purpose.
A key issue during the audit is expected to be the Sewol ferry disaster. The 6,825-ton ferry sank off the country’s southwest coast on April 16, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.
Critics argue that the government’s poor initial response to the disaster contributed to the high death toll.
After months of wrangling, the ruling and main opposition parties agreed last week on the terms of a bill aimed at determining the truth behind the tragedy. The victims’ families, however, rejected the bipartisan deal on the grounds that it fails to ensure an unrestricted probe.
The rival parties have set the deadline for the bill’s passage for the end of this month.
Another controversial issue is the government’s plan to raise the price of cigarettes by 2,000 won (US$1.87) per pack, an increase of about 80 percent from the current average price of 2,500 won, starting next year.
The government claims that the move is designed to reduce the smoking rate by 8 percentage points, but angry smokers protest that it is a measure aimed at increasing tax revenues.
The smoking rate among South Korean males hovers at around 44 percent, far above the average of 25 percent for member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 34 advanced economies. (Yonhap)
