[Summary] "Reasonably Acceptable" vs "Reminds of the Cho Kuk Incident" Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Over Allegations Against Choo Mi-ae's Son

Dispute Between Ruling and Opposition Over Alleged Favoritism During Choo Mi-ae's Son's Military Service
"Explain but Acceptable Within Common Sense," Ruling Party Cautious
"Deja Vu of Cho Kuk's Daddy Chance," "Trampling on Fairness," Opposition Intensifies Criticism

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae attended the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th and sat in the Cabinet members' seats. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The conflict between the ruling and opposition parties is deepening over allegations of preferential treatment during the military service of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son, Seo Mo. The ruling party has come forward to defend Minister Choo, arguing that it is a "matter that can be reasonably understood," while the opposition party is comparing the allegations to the so-called "Cho Kuk scandal" and calling for a special prosecutor investigation into Minister Choo.

Earlier, on the 6th, Shin Won-sik, a member of the People Power Party, raised suspicions that there was a request to select Seo as an interpreter for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics during his service in KATUSA in 2018.

On the same day, Shin released a recorded phone conversation with Colonel A, a former commander of the U.S. 8th Army Korean Support Group who managed the KATUSA troops where Seo served. In the recording, Colonel A claims, "When Minister Choo's son came to KATUSA, I blocked pressure from the initial classification, and I did not accept any pressure that came during the Winter Olympics."

He continued, "There were many requests from the minister's office and the National Assembly liaison group to send Seo as an interpreter," but "he was not sent as an interpreter."

He further explained, "I told my subordinates during meetings that this matter could cause problems if handled improperly, so we changed the selection method to a lottery," adding, "Seo did not go as an interpreter at that time, and I also blocked additional requests to send him later." At the time of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Minister Choo was the leader of the Democratic Party.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, allegations surfaced that a secretary to Minister Choo, while she was the Democratic Party leader, called Seo's unit to request an extension of his leave.

Song Gap-seok, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the preferential treatment allegations during Seo's military service, the Democratic Party showed a cautious stance while defending Minister Choo. On the 7th, Democratic Party lawmaker Song Gap-seok said in a BBS radio interview, "Since allegations have been raised, explanations should be made and the truth should be clarified," but added, "Currently, it is at a level that can be reasonably understood."

On the same day, Park Beom-gye, also from the Democratic Party, appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "All matters have been reported and are under investigation by the prosecution," adding, "Since this is currently a situation of media allegations, it is not possible to make definitive judgments."

On the other hand, the People Power Party strongly criticized the allegations, calling them the "Second Cho Kuk scandal."

Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, referred to the preferential treatment allegations surrounding Minister Choo's son as "Minister Choo's 'Mom Chance,'" and said, "The public watching this preferential 'emperor-style' military service feels a d?j? vu of the 'Dad Chance' that undermined fairness in education during the Cho Kuk scandal last fall."

He added, "This matter cannot be dismissed as just a parent's misguided love for their child," and stated, "At that time, the ruling party leader abused power to violate the constitutional duty of national defense and trampled on the value of fairness, committing an unconstitutional and antisocial crime."

He further said, "What our youth want is not a few extra won in soldiers' pay, but a society where common sense prevails that everyone must be fair before the duty of national defense."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Chairman Kim emphasized, "It is true that a phone call was made, but to say it was not pressure or a request is sophistry," and added, "Which citizen would believe the investigation results? Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol must immediately appoint a special prosecutor, and if the investigation is insufficient, pursuing a special prosecutor is inevitable."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the same party, pointed out, "This is a simple case, but the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, which is in charge of the investigation, has not reached a conclusion for eight months," and "There are also moves for a person who dismissed testimony to return to the investigation team."

He urged, "Minister Choo herself raised a conflict of interest issue with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission regarding her position," and said, "I hope Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the Commission will promptly present a conclusion to the public that she should be excluded from her duties due to conflict of interest."

Amid ongoing controversy over preferential treatment during Minister Choo's son's military service, Minister Choo announced that she will not receive any reports related to the investigation of the case.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "Minister Choo has repeatedly expressed through responses to the National Assembly that the prosecution should conduct a swift and thorough investigation to clarify the facts regarding the recent controversial case," and added, "She has not received any reports related to the case so far and will not receive any in the future."

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