"Writing Novels" "What Does That Mean?" Choo Mi-ae's 'Strong Remarks' Lead to Daily Confrontations with the United Future Party

Choo Mi-ae "Writing Novels" Remark Turns Legislation Committee into Chaos
Jang Je-won "Choo Mi-ae Spat in the National Assembly, How Far Does Arrogance Go?"
"So What?" Backlash Over 'Soomyeongja' Question in Government Inquiry

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to lawmakers' requests for document submissions at the National Assembly Judiciary Committee plenary meeting held on the afternoon of the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 27th, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae said "You're writing a novel" in response to questions about allegations of her son's failure to return from military leave during his service at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session, prompting strong protests from opposition lawmakers and causing the committee to break down.

Previously, Minister Choo had also faced harsh objections from opposition lawmakers during the National Assembly's government questioning session when she responded to inquiries about the alleged prior leak of the Ministry of Justice's position statement by saying, "So what?" With this latest "novel" remark added, criticism of Minister Choo's statements by opposition lawmakers is expected to continue for some time.

On the same day at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session, Yoon Han-hong, a member of the United Future Party, questioned Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Ki-young, saying, "You were suddenly appointed as Deputy Minister after serving as the head of the Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. Was this related to the investigation of Minister Choo's son?" In response to Yoon's question, Minister Choo immediately said, "You're writing a novel."

Deputy Minister Ko served as the head of the Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office from January to April this year before being appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice. The Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office is the office handling the case concerning allegations of Minister Choo's son's failure to return from military leave. For this reason, the opposition views the personnel appointment of the head of the Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office as possibly connected to the allegations involving Minister Choo's son.

Minister Choo's remark turned the committee meeting into a chaotic scene with loud voices and heated arguments.

Yoon said, "With the head of the Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office now serving as Deputy Minister, can the Eastern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office conduct the investigation properly? I don't think so," and added, "That's why I'm asking, but if the Minister of Justice says 'You're writing a novel,' what kind of novelist is a member of the National Assembly?" Minister Choo retorted immediately, "You should ask proper questions."

During this exchange, Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party who was not scheduled to speak, also joined in, protesting, "Just because you're a member of the National Assembly doesn't mean you can ask questions freely and insult the minister. Provide evidence when you ask."

In response, United Future Party lawmakers raised their voices at Kim, asking, "Are you a Ministry of Justice employee or the minister's secretary?"

Jang Je-won, a United Future Party lawmaker, protested to Yoon Ho-jung, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, saying, "Restrain member Kim. What is this?" Eventually, Chairman Yoon declared a recess.

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending and responding to the government questioning on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is not the first time the opposition has protested Minister Choo's remarks. On the 22nd, during the National Assembly's government questioning session, Kim Tae-heum of the United Future Party questioned allegations that Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, was involved in the Ministry of Justice's position statement.

Regarding Kim's claim that the legal term "su-myeong-ja" (meaning a person subject to a legal order) was evidence of a leak, Minister Choo responded, "Member Kim should ask questions where a logical causal relationship is established. It's not that I didn't use the term 'su-myeong-ja.'"

Despite this, when Kim pressed further, Minister Choo strongly retorted, "So what?" In response, Kim raised his voice, saying, "Why do you keep arguing? Did you come here to fight?" Minister Choo replied, "Please refrain from questions intended to embarrass."

Kim also repeatedly questioned, "The minister strongly told others not to touch the issue of her son anymore. Shouldn't she also respond strongly to secondary victims as she did with the issue of her son?"

Minister Choo then pointed out, "It seems inappropriate to connect this case with my son," adding, "There are limits to questioning."

Kim Seong-won, the senior deputy floor leader of the United Future Party (center), is protesting to Speaker Park Byeong-seok about Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae's attitude during her response to a question from Kim Tae-heum, a member of the United Future Party, at the government questioning session on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As Minister Choo and member Kim exchanged heated words, voices from both ruling and opposition seats shouted, "Speak with knowledge," and "Why is the chair remaining silent?" In response, Kim said, "The state of the country has lost fairness and justice. That's why impeachment was initiated." Minister Choo countered, "Isn't this an abuse of power by the opposition?"

Meanwhile, shortly after the disturbance in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Jang Je-won of the United Future Party posted on his Facebook early on the 28th, strongly criticizing, "Minister Choo insulted the National Assembly, where she served for 20 years, and spat on the National Assembly, the hall of public opinion."

He continued, "An absurd incident occurred," and said, "Minister Choo staged a melodrama by saying 'You're writing a novel.' Has any head of a supervised institution ever spoken so rudely to a questioning standing committee member in the history of the Republic of Korea's constitutional government?"

He added, "Where will Minister Choo's arrogance and arrogance end? Whenever Minister Choo comes, the National Assembly turns into a mess. This is an insult to the people. Minister Choo must reflect. I urge her to apologize once again."

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