Calling "Minister" Three Times, No Response from Chu... Kim Do-eup "Not Even Answering"

Kim Do-eup "If asked, you should answer... Is this normal?"
Jang Je-won "This is too much"

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 23rd, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae sparked controversy by showing an attitude that seemed to ignore Kim Do-eup, a member of the People Power Party. Kim repeatedly called out to Minister Choo to request the submission of documents, but she remained silent.

During the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (LJC) held at the National Assembly that day, Kim called out to Minister Choo three times, saying "Minister of Justice." In response, Minister Choo only looked at Kim without giving any particular answer. Typically, when a cabinet member is addressed by their title at the start of a question, they respond with "Yes."

When Kim asked, "Are you not going to answer now?" Minister Choo finally replied, "I am listening." Afterwards, when Kim asked again, "Shall I ask the question?" Minister Choo once again remained silent. At Minister Choo's attitude, Kim sighed, saying, "Oh dear."

As Minister Choo did not give any further response, Kim said, "Since the prosecution's documents come through the Ministry of Justice, I will request the submission of documents from the Minister of Justice."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is listening to questions from Kim Do-eup, the floor leader of the People Power Party, at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held on the 23rd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He requested Minister Choo to submit documents regarding ▲whether there is a petition case related to former People Power Party lawmaker Park Deok-heum in 2017, as mentioned by Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea ▲and if so, the reason why the petition case has not proceeded as claimed by Supreme Council member Shin. Minister Choo responded, "I will check."

Eventually, Jang Je-won, a lawmaker from the same party, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "(Minister Choo) seems to be going too far," and Yoon Ho-jung, the chairman of the LJC from the Democratic Party, stepped in to mediate.

Chairman Yoon urged Minister Choo, "Minister, please answer when a lawmaker asks a question. Whether you answer or not is your choice, but you have an obligation to respond sincerely, so please do so."

In response, Kim said, "If you ask a question, you have to answer for it to be a proper Q&A. (Will the chairman just watch this? Is this normal?)" he protested.

Meanwhile, the tension between Minister Choo and the People Power Party lawmakers is not new. On the 21st, Minister Choo also caused controversy by making remarks that seemed to belittle Kim.

At that time, during the LJC plenary session, unaware that the microphone was on, Minister Choo said, "It's ridiculous. That person did well not to become a prosecutor but a lawmaker. It seems like several innocent people will be caught."

Although Minister Choo did not directly mention any lawmaker by name, considering that the questioner just before the recess was Kim, the opposition party's secretary of the LJC, the remark appeared to be aimed at Kim.

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