The finance minister of the Moon Jae-in administration was reportedly summoned recently over allegations that a deceptively optimistic national debt-to-gross domestic product ratio was used as a financial management indicator.

The Board of Audit and Inspection(BAI) summoned Hong Nam-ki over claims that the ratio representing the government’s fiscal soundness appeared more favorable than reality, which would allow the government to actively manage state finances.

During his tenure from December 2018 through May 2022, Hong had put forth eleven state budgets, including seven extra budgets.

The latest probe by the BAI is separate from its earlier investigation into the alleged manipulation of data on income, employment and housing prices by the previous government.