Fall Son's 'Military Leave No-Return' Suspicion Spreads... "Resign," "Must Be Investigated for Abuse of Power"

"Advisor Choo Called the Unit" Unit Officer's Recording Released
Choo Mi-ae's Son's Side "All Sick Leave Documents Submitted"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae attended the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 25th of last month, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid allegations of 'military leave absence' involving Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, and her son Seo Mo (27), the People Power Party (formerly the United Future Party) has increased pressure on Minister Choo, calling for her resignation.

On the 2nd, Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district in Seoul, said regarding the released recording related to Minister Choo's son's military service allegations, "If Minister Choo lied to the public, she should step down from her ministerial position and be investigated for abuse of power."

In a post on his Facebook that day, he stated, "The recorded statement by Captain A, who said a secretary called to request an extension of leave, and Minister Choo's statement in the National Assembly denying any such instruction to the secretary are clearly contradictory, with one side lying," adding, "If Minister Choo is confident, she should sue Captain A and Representative Shin Won-sik for defamation due to false information. If confident, she should voluntarily request a cross-examination between the secretary and Captain A."

He continued, "Boldly tell your son to appear at the Eastern District Prosecutor's Office for investigation. Surely your son would not disobey the order of the Minister of Justice," and sarcastically remarked, "This is a case that can be easily clarified, so isn't the minister also frustrated that the key party, her son, has not yet been summoned?"

On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong also continued criticism of Minister Choo. Kim said, "Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon was removed from his duties and sent to the Judicial Research and Training Institute just because his name was mentioned in the recording," and pointed out, "Now it's Minister Choo's turn. Since the recording has been released, isn't it natural for her to step down from her ministerial position?"

Shin Won-sik, a member of the People Power Party, is revealing a transcript related to the use of sick leave and annual leave during the military service of Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice's son, at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 2nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier that day, People Power Party lawmaker Shin Won-sik released a recording of a military official who said he received a direct phone call from Minister Choo's secretary when she was the leader of the Democratic Party in 2017.

According to the recording, Captain A, a support officer of the KATUSA unit where Seo served, said in a call with Representative Shin's office on the 30th of last month, in response to the question "Did the secretary of then-Leader Choo inquire about extending Seo's sick leave?" that "Yes." He added, "The role of a secretary is to assist a member of the National Assembly, so I wondered why the secretary had to do this."

However, Seo's side has stated that there is no legal issue regarding the 'military leave absence' allegations.

Seo's attorneys, Lee Jae-jin and Lim Ho-seop of the law firm Jeongsang, emphasized in a statement that day, "Seo received a diagnosis at the Armed Forces Yangju Hospital that surgery was necessary according to sick leave regulations and submitted all required documents for the sick leave application."

Seo took his first sick leave from June 5 to 14, 2017, while serving in KATUSA and underwent right knee surgery at Samsung Seoul Hospital. Afterwards, he applied for a second sick leave of nine days starting June 23, but since he had not fully recovered, he inquired about extending the sick leave with his superior. He then took four days of personal leave and returned on the 27th.

The attorneys explained, "Before the first sick leave, he received prior training from the support team leader that sick leave could be extended up to 30 days and inquired about an extension. However, when he actually applied for an extension, he was told he had to use personal leave, so he had no choice but to use his leave."

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