Seoul:First paragraph of the news story.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Assembly is set to commence its annual audit of government agencies, with sessions starting at 10 a.m. Eight of the Assembly's 17 standing committees will hold their sessions on the first day of the audit, which is scheduled to continue until October 27.

Significant clashes are anticipated, particularly within the legislation and judiciary committee, due to Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal to recommend a new candidate for court justice as requested by the presidential office. This decision by Chief Justice Cho follows an earlier request in August by the presidential office, which questioned his initial recommendations of two Supreme Court justice nominees to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho declined the request, citing a lack of constitutional basis for such action.

The Constitution mandates that Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president, based on the chief justice's recommendation and with the National Assembly's consent. Although Cho has indicated he would clarify his position during the parliamentary audit, he has submitted a written notice indicating he will not attend as a witness.

Another point of contention during the audit, particularly in the foreign affairs and unification committee, will be the recent diplomatic tensions with Ukraine over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer, a disclosure that South Korea claims was not agreed upon by both parties. Seoul has accused Ukraine of breaching a bilateral agreement to keep the transfer confidential, a claim that Ukraine has denied.

Additionally, the recent incidents involving North Korea-planted land mines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which resulted in injuries to three South Korean soldiers, are expected to be scrutinized during the audit sessions.