Choo Mi-ae: "Why can Choi Kang-wook, a man, use 'sumyeongja' but I, a woman, cannot?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae reacted against allegations of leaking a draft statement from the Ministry of Justice containing the term 'sumyeongja (受命者)' during a government questioning session, saying, "Male lawmaker Choi Kang-wook can use the term sumyeongja, but I can't because I'm a woman?"

On the 22nd, during the government questioning session, Minister Choo responded to a question from Kim Tae-heum of the United Future Party by saying, "The term sumyeongja is a word found in legal codes."

Earlier, Lawmaker Kim pointed out the issue that arose when Lawmaker Choi posted a draft statement from the Ministry of Justice containing the word 'sumyeongja' on Facebook, suggesting speculation that Choi might have been involved in drafting the Ministry's statement. Although it is a word Choi frequently uses, Minister Choo has never used it.

In response, Minister Choo said, "Lawmaker Kim should ask questions where logical causality is established; it's not that I don't use the word sumyeongja," emphasizing, "I often use words like command and instruction. Why shouldn't I use such words when I am the top supervisor?"

She added, "The Prosecutor General was clearly referred to as 'sumyeongja' to mean that he follows the orders of the Minister."

Minister Choo expressed frustration, saying, "Lawmaker Kim's logic implies that male lawmaker Choi Kang-wook can use such terms, but as a woman, I cannot," and added, "While expressing sympathy for the late Mayor Park Won-soon's victims, why do they drag my son into this and ask about his private life like that?"

During this exchange, members of the Democratic Party and the United Future Party raised their voices, leading to loud arguments.

This was in response to Kim's question, "You strongly responded to issues regarding your son's private life, but why remain silent about the secondary victimization of Mayor Park's victims?" Minister Choo replied, "My son has no issues, and linking this case to my son is inappropriate," adding, "There are limits to questioning."

Regarding her lack of a clear stance on the case despite being the minister in charge, she said, "I am observing the situation," and added, "The police investigation is ongoing, and if it moves to the prosecution stage and I receive reports, I will be able to speak."

When criticized for exercising investigative command rights despite previously participating in legislation to abolish the Minister of Justice's investigative command rights, she explained, "That was the party line at the time," and said, "24 years ago, the Minister of Justice was a former prosecutor, and it was customary for the prosecutor-turned minister to command from morning till late at night, with the Prosecutor General following silently."

She continued, "Things are different now," adding, "Currently, the Minister of Justice exceptionally intervenes deeply in cases where neutrality is compromised or where self-recusal is appropriate, conducting department meetings and investigative advisory panels, so it was unavoidable to exercise investigative command rights."

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