Choo Mi-ae: "It's embarrassing to listen to. Please stop." Opposition: "Are you challenging us to a fight?"

On the morning of the 4th, at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is listening to questions from members of the United Future Party.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] The attitude shown by Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Law Committee) has become controversial. Opposition lawmakers pointed out that her behavior was inappropriate for a cabinet member.

On the 4th, Minister Chu Mi-ae, who attended the Law Committee plenary session, engaged in several verbal disputes with opposition lawmakers during the Q&A session.

When Joo Kwang-deok, a member of the Future United Party, asked Minister Chu for her opinion on the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act and requested her to stop speaking as her answer did not align with the question's intent, Minister Chu said, "There may be misunderstandings in the answer, so if I have started the sentence, I will finish it," and continued her response until the end.

In response, Representative Joo criticized, "Even during the government questioning, the answers did not correspond to the intent of the questioning lawmakers, and despite being asked to stop, she kept reading from prepared written materials. It is disappointing and regrettable if this is the behavior of a five-term lawmaker."

Also, when Park Ji-won of the Minsheng Party asked a question, Minister Chu replied, "I was momentarily distracted," which drew criticism.

During the Q&A with Jang Je-won of the United Party, voices were raised. Representative Jang scolded Minister Chu, who ordered the seizure and search of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji) related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), saying, "Follow the procedures. It is not the place for the Minister of Justice to act rashly."

Referring to the controversy over a promotional video showing juvenile detention center inmates performing New Year's bows, he said, "Is this the Ministry of Justice TV or Chu Mi-ae's personal promotional video?" and criticized, "When Cho Kuk resigned, they dedicated a video, and now they are making a TV video for presidential candidate Chu Mi-ae. Is this a flattering department? Are they doing this kind of thing with taxpayers' money?"

Minister Chu responded by stopping Representative Jang, saying, "It's embarrassing to hear. Let's stop," and added, "Please have the Law Committee chairman restrain the expression 'Why are you acting rashly?'"

Also, when Oh Shin-hwan of the United Party made a reprimanding remark regarding the Shincheonji seizure and search, Minister Chu was seen listening with her arms crossed for about 30 seconds. When Representative Oh said, "Why can't you control your emotions when answering? You didn't come here to fight, did you?" Minister Chu retorted, "When I answer, they say I am trying to fight."

In response, Representative Jung Gap-yoon of the United Party pointed out, "Looking at the minister now, she gives the impression that she wants to have a fight."

Even within the ruling party, there were voices of concern about Minister Chu's attitude. Song Ki-heon, the Democratic Party's Law Committee secretary, said, "Although the minister is a senior lawmaker, I hope she is careful and flexible in this setting and avoids appearing to quarrel with the lawmakers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.