"Virus Super-Spreader"... People Power Emergency Committee Unites in Criticism of Chu Mi-ae

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, the Minister of Justice is becoming a super spreader of the unfairness virus."

The Emergency Committee of the People Power Party collectively condemned Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae over allegations of special treatment regarding her son's military leave.

Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People Power Party's Emergency Committee, said at the committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th, "We are fighting two viruses: COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection) and the unfairness virus."

He stated, "(Former Minister of Justice) Cho Kuk touched a nerve of public sentiment with unfairness in education, and the current Minister of Justice is doing so with unfair special treatment in military service," adding, "However, the ruling party is calling them sole perpetrators and accomplices, even revealing the real name of the young man who reported the emperor-like military leave granted through 'mommy chance.' Instead of resolving the issue, they have poured fuel on the angry public sentiment."

Chairman Kim pressured, "The president must not worsen the situation by maintaining intentional silence," and "The president should clearly state his position on this matter and take action regarding the Minister of Justice."

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also criticized, saying, "Minister Choo, ahead of the government questioning, apologized for her son's military service issue but insisted there was 'no particular reason to break procedures,' and if the Minister of Justice says there was 'no particular reason to break rules,' the prosecutors investigating will take that as a guideline."

He continued, "Moreover, Kim Kwan-jung, head of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, who effectively led this case as the chief of the Criminal Affairs Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, tried to exclude the testimony of the discharged soldier after eight months of investigation," adding, "Who would believe the investigation results conducted by obedient subordinate prosecutors under Minister Choo's influence?"

He also emphasized that they would file a complaint with the National Assembly Ethics Committee against Rep. Hwang Hee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who disclosed the real name of the current soldier who reported the leave allegations, and consider measures to protect the soldier as a whistleblower.

Emergency Committee member Kim Jae-seop said, "I spoke with the current soldier yesterday. The ruling party claimed he had fled or gone into hiding, but that was proven false," adding, "Until yesterday, no one was providing legal assistance to him, who was even accused of being backed by forces involved in state corruption."

Chairman Kim pointed out, "He has been enduring everything alone since he blew the whistle in February and even now while being threatened by lawmakers, and he is preparing his thesis alone," adding, "Meanwhile, Minister Choo's son, Mr. Seo, has been protected by the most powerful people in our society, including the Minister of Justice, ruling party lawmakers, lawyers from the Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society), and pro-government media."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Emergency Committee member Sung Il-jong sarcastically remarked, "Is Minister Choo conducting defense reform instead of prosecutorial reform? Thanks to Minister Choo, all mothers can now extend their sons' military leave by phone with the Ministry of National Defense, and there is no longer a need for review when extending sick leave. What a great defense reform."

Emergency Committee member Kim Mi-ae also said, "When the military service allegations surfaced during the parliamentary confirmation hearing, she mocked it as a 'show,' but only apologized to the public yesterday," adding, "Such a late apology lacks sincerity and does not clarify what she is apologizing for."

She criticized, "Minister Choo expressed confidence in her son's innocence and wrote on social media that the truth should be revealed through the prosecution's investigation," adding, "She ousted the prosecutors investigating her son to sidelined positions and instead appointed the prosecutor who obstructed the investigation as the person responsible for her son, so it is not surprising she is confident of his innocence."

Emergency Committee member Kim Byung-min referred to former Democratic Party lawmaker Pyo Chang-won's past column criticizing political parties using the 'Broken Windows Theory,' saying, "The law that was used to criticize the opposing party is now coming back to the ruling party," adding, "Because the verbal abuses by lawmakers Seol Hoon, Kim Jong-min, Woo Sang-ho, and Jung Chung-rae against Minister Choo's son have been left unchecked, Rep. Hwang disclosed the whistleblower's real name and fiercely criticized him as a criminal." He also pressured Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon to file a complaint against Rep. Hwang with the party's Ethics Tribunal.

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