Prosecutors Investigate Chu Mi-ae's Son for 'Military Leave Absence'... Military Officials Summoned

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] It was reported on the 1st that the prosecution investigating the allegations of military leave absence by the son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae has summoned and questioned military personnel who served with him at the time.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Yang In-cheol) recently summoned Mr. A, who served with Minister Choo's son Seo (27), for questioning as a witness.

Mr. A, who was on duty as a soldier in June 2017 and received a report of Seo's failure to return from leave, reportedly testified to the prosecution that "Seo's leave extension process was unusual." Seo took a 10-day leave and then extended it once, taking a total of 20 days off. Seo applied for a second extension, but the support team leader at the time, Sergeant Lee, did not approve it.

However, Sergeant Lee gave a statement to the prosecution that contradicted Mr. A's claim. Sergeant Lee testified that "I was diagnosed with cancer at the time and could not pay attention to unit operations," and that he "was not aware of the matter."

Additionally, the prosecution has identified the specific dates of Seo's original leave and the extended period, and has somewhat identified the identity of an unnamed captain who instructed Mr. A to process Seo's leave extension. However, a prosecution official said, "Since this is an ongoing investigation, it is difficult to confirm whether a summons has been issued."

Meanwhile, the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the United Future Party, filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in January accusing Minister Choo of obstruction of official duties by coercion and joint perpetration of coercion for the purpose of avoiding duty. The Liberty Korea Party alleged that Seo went on leave and did not return to the unit, and that Minister Choo exerted external pressure on the unit to cover up the incident. Seo served as a KATUSA soldier in the US 8th Army Korea Support Group, 2nd Infantry Division Area Battalion in 2017, when Minister Choo was the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

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