[Summary] Choo Mi-ae "Zero Tolerance Response" vs Joo Ho-young "Not Hu-an-mu-chi but Chu-an-mu-chi"

Choo Mi-ae on Son's 'Military Favoritism Allegation': "Lies by Opposition and Conservative Media"
Joo Ho-young: "Choo is Shameless... The People Have Nothing Left but the Right to Resist"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is reviewing documents at the Seoul-Sejong video cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 29th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 2nd, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae claimed that it has been "clearly proven that it was a 'lie by the opposition party and conservative media,'" and insisted that there is "no basis to consider it an 'order'" that she gave her aide the contact information of the support officer of her son's military unit.

The opposition party immediately reacted. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized, "It is shameless beyond measure," calling it "in short, Choo An-mu-chi (a pun combining Choo's name and 'shameless')."

In a post on her Facebook on the same day, Minister Choo addressed the opposition and media who raised suspicions about her son, stating, "If there are no appropriate measures against lawmakers who repeatedly engage in false slander and distortion using parliamentary immunity and immunity from arrest as shields, I will explore all possible legal means," and "I will respond with a zero-tolerance policy toward media that maliciously and habitually spread fake news."

Minister Choo argued, "My son's sick leave and annual leave are basic rights guaranteed to any soldier in the Republic of Korea, and they were lawfully taken within that scope." She then questioned, "What kind of request or external pressure would be necessary to exercise rights guaranteed to oneself?"

Minister Choo said, "Although the prosecution's investigation ended with no charges, the opposition and conservative media are pushing a false narrative that deviates from the essence," and added, "I once again urge a clear apology from those who irresponsibly raised suspicions. If they do not respond, I will consider all means including legal action as soon as possible."

Minister Choo also insisted, "As all raised suspicions have been resolved, they are now taking issue with the transmission of the phone number of the support officer, a military official announced by the prosecution," and reiterated, "The aide and the support officer had already communicated a week ago on June 14 to discuss the first extension of sick leave. There is no basis to consider the transmission of the support officer's phone number, which was received from my son on the 21st and passed on to the aide, as an order to the aide."

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party Photo by Yonhap News

In response to Minister Choo's rebuttal, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young criticized at a virtual party meeting, "Minister Choo claims that all allegations against her were false and is threatening criminal charges," and said, "Where else can such audacity be found?"

Floor Leader Joo stated, "Minister Choo insisted she did not know about it, but the prosecution's investigation revealed that then ruling party leader Choo Mi-ae gave her aide the phone number of the captain in charge of leave and sick leave," and added, "Nevertheless, the prosecution gave Choo Mi-ae a clean bill of health with a 'non-prosecution disposition.'"

He continued, "The Moon Jae-in administration controlled the Ministry of Justice, prosecution, judiciary, and Constitutional Court. They even used constitutional interpretation as a tool of governance," and said, "It seems that the only option left for the people is the right to resist."

Choi Hyung-doo, floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in an oral statement that day, "The prosecution's non-prosecution disposition regarding the allegations against Minister Choo's son is essentially saying, 'She gave the phone number but did not order to call,'" and criticized, "If you think the law moves around Minister Choo, that is a misconception, and if it does, it will be evidence that the rule of law in this land has been destroyed."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office issued a 'no charges' non-prosecution disposition on allegations of military absence, aiding military absence, and obstruction of official duties against Minister Choo, her son Seo Mo, and a former aide.

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