Choo Mi-ae Responds to United Party Lawmaker's Question with "You're Writing Fiction"... Judiciary Committee Adjourns

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the afternoon of the 27th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was adjourned after Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae sarcastically responded to Future United Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong's question to Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Ki-young by saying, "You're writing a novel."

On that day, Lawmaker Yoon asked Deputy Minister Ko, "(Minister Choo's) accusation was in January, and you were the head of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office at that time, right? In April, you suddenly moved to the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, and less than three months later, you were appointed as Deputy Minister. Isn't this related to the investigation of the Minister's son?"

Deputy Minister Ko was appointed head of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in January, succeeding Prosecutor General Jo Nam-gwan, who was investigating the 'Yoo Jae-soo former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs' case, and was appointed Deputy Minister at the end of April, about three months later. Around the same time, the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the United Party, had accused Minister Choo of covering up her son's military leave absence case, filing charges including obstruction of official duties by abuse of power, co-perpetration of abuse of power for the purpose of avoiding work, and aiding military desertion. Based on the overlapping timing, suspicions were raised that Deputy Minister Ko's appointment might be related to the investigation of Minister Choo's son.

In response, Minister Choo suddenly raised her voice, saying, "You're writing a novel," causing a commotion in the chamber. Lawmaker Yoon protested, saying, "Does the Minister sit there and say 'You're writing a novel'? Is a lawmaker a novelist?" Minister Choo retorted loudly, "Please ask questions that are like questions."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk raised his voice, saying, "Why ask such questions here? You should ask with evidence," and called it "an insult to the Deputy Minister."

In response, Lawmaker Yoon shot back at Lawmaker Kim, "Are you Minister Choo's chief secretary?" As the verbal exchange escalated, United Party lawmaker Jang Je-won asked Yoon Ho-jung, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, "Please restrain Lawmaker Kim," and Chairman Yoon declared a brief adjournment.

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