Joo Ho-young: "Chu Mi-ae 'Writing Novels' Attitude is Arrogant... Caused a Disturbance in the National Assembly"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's remarks at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as "tantamount to causing a disturbance in the National Assembly."

In an interview on YTN Radio's 'Starting Morning' on the 28th, Floor Leader Joo said, "Saying 'You're writing fiction' at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee yesterday was arrogant, and to put it strongly, it was like causing a disturbance in the National Assembly."

On the 27th, at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, when United Future Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong asked Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Gi-young whether Minister Choo's son received preferential treatment in his military service for promotion, Minister Choo added, "You're writing fiction," sparking controversy.

Floor Leader Joo said, "A member of the National Assembly asks as a representative of the people, but even the attitude in answering in the plenary session was like, 'So what do you want me to do?' or 'You're not trying to pick a fight with me, are you?'" He added, "Representative Lee Hae-chan said, 'Seoul is a vulgar city,' but I want to say that it is the character that is vulgar."

On the 27th, Floor Leader Joo also revealed a copy of a confidential agreement signed by nominee Park Ji-won, head of the National Intelligence Service, to provide an additional $2.5 billion to North Korea at the Intelligence Committee.

Regarding the authenticity of the original document, he said, "If the document is true, the original would be kept as a top-secret document, one in Pyongyang and one in our country, so it cannot be brought here. However, since several people involved in creating such a document in Beijing in 2000 are still around, the truth will be revealed through testimonies and other means."

Regarding the relocation of the administrative capital and the emergence of positive opinions within the party, he explained, "We oppose the ruling party's opinions submitted without sincerity before the constitutional issues are resolved, but since there are problems like national land extinction and regional imbalance, we suggest discussing it from the perspective of overall national land development rather than solving it through relocating the administrative capital." He added, "(Even those who are positive) are not saying we should support relocating the administrative capital now, but rather that we should consider issues like regional extinction."

He also strongly criticized the ruling party's attempt to amend party rules to field a mayoral candidate in the by-election next April. Floor Leader Joo said, "Changing the party rules quickly to field a candidate is a very bad thing," adding, "Due to the criminal acts of a local government head from their own party, a long-term administrative vacuum has occurred, and this damage directly affects the citizens. Fielding a candidate despite this damage is absolutely unacceptable."

He emphasized the need for opposition party candidate unification to prevent this. Floor Leader Joo said, "We need to unify candidates to stop the Democratic Party or the Moon administration," and added, "Candidates should be selected in a 'Miss Trot' style, but the process should be fun, surprising, and involve many participants."

He emphasized, "Until now, the United Future Party's candidate selection method has often remained within party events with 50% party member votes and 50% opinion polls. This time, instead of simply conducting opinion polls targeting the public, the method should involve many citizens. The process of selecting candidates itself should be fun and surprising, allowing the general public to participate and become a topic of conversation. We will design the primary election method accordingly."

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