Choo "Would you eat for free just because it's your daughter's store?" Kim Geun-sik "Irrelevant answers should have limits"

Suspicion of Using Political Funds at Daughter's Restaurant in Autumn

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is walking up to the podium to respond to lawmakers' questions during the government-wide inquiry on education, social, and cultural affairs held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 17th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] In response to allegations that Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae spent several million won of political funds at a restaurant run by her eldest daughter during her time as a member of the National Assembly, she replied, "I can't eat for free at my daughter's place." On the 17th, Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, who is the head of the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee, sharply criticized, saying, "Even irrelevant answers should have their limits."

Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook that day, "They ask why political funds raised were focused on my daughter's restaurant, and when she answers that she can't eat for free, is she deaf?"

He said, "Yes, you shouldn't eat for free at your daughter's restaurant. It's not about blaming her for paying for the meal," adding, "Political funds are like taxes. Therefore, they must be used transparently, and the Political Funds Act strictly regulates this."

He continued, "Using political funds under the name of a press conference to boost sales at her daughter's restaurant is inappropriate and unethical. Isn't this a case of preferential treatment or insider trading?" He sarcastically added, "It would be cool to just apologize, but Minister Choo's personality is to get defensive with irrelevant answers until the end. No wonder she remains unfazed by suspicions about her son's leave. Truly remarkable."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to a government question from Song Ki-heon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the People Power Party claimed that Minister Choo used about 2.5 million won of political funds 21 times from November 2014 to August 2015 at a restaurant in Itaewon run by her eldest daughter under the pretext of press conferences and other events.

In response, Minister Choo explained at a government questioning session held at the National Assembly that day, "At the time, my daughter quit her job and wanted to start a youth business, so she scraped together the money to start it, but due to high key money and soaring rent, she couldn't manage it alone despite working from early morning until late, and actually closed the restaurant." The restaurant, which opened in 2014, operated for about a year before closing.

Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party who raised the question, raised his voice, saying, "This is not only a violation of the Political Funds Act but also preferential treatment, boosting family sales, and insider trading. It goes against justice and fairness."

Minister Choo responded to Choi's criticism by saying, "Just because it's my daughter's restaurant doesn't mean I can eat for free," and added, "I sincerely thank the member for recalling painful memories with his question."

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