Despite Son's Allegation Being 'No Charges', Chu Mi-ae Predicts Fierce National Assembly Audit Debate

From the 7th, National Assembly Audits of Related Agencies Starting with the Ministry of National Defense
Intense Opposition Questioning Expected in Ministry of Justice and Prosecution Audits
Opposition Likely to Highlight Minister Choo Mi-ae's 'False Testimony'
Choo Announces Legal Action, Foreseeing Heated Disputes

On the 23rd of last month, Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, attended the 'Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting' held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution's dismissal of charges and warnings of legal action over raised suspicions. The controversy surrounding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son's 'military leave' is expected to intensify as the dispute moves to the National Assembly.

The opposition party is set to highlight Minister Choo's 'false testimony' during the National Assembly audit and is preparing to use the inspection card against the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, which conducted the investigation and issued a 'no charges' decision.

On the other hand, Minister Choo clearly stated on her Facebook during the Chuseok holiday that she would take legal action against the opposition and the media, indicating she will actively respond to the opposition's attacks during the National Assembly audit as well.

According to the National Assembly on the 5th, the National Defense Committee will conduct an audit of the Ministry of National Defense on the 7th. Additionally, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee audits are scheduled for the Ministry of Justice on the 12th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Financial District Prosecutors' Office on the 19th, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 22nd.

During the Ministry of National Defense audit, opposition members are expected to focus their questions on whether there were procedural issues in the process of extending the sick leave or vacation of Minister Choo's son, Seo Mo. Questions will include whether it was originally possible to extend leave by phone without submitting a medical certificate in advance, and why there is no record of complaints despite statements that Seo's parents filed complaints. It will be of interest whether the military authorities can provide satisfactory explanations.

At the Ministry of Justice audit, where Minister Choo will personally respond as the head of the institution, and at the Seoul Central and Financial District Prosecutors' Office audit on the 19th, where Kim Kwan-jung, the head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office who led the investigation, will appear, opposition members are expected to focus their questions on the investigation results.

In particular, questions are anticipated regarding why the testimony of the support officer stating 'I received a call from the aide' was omitted from the investigation records, why the investigators and prosecutors who omitted important testimonies were reinstated to the investigation team after personnel transfers, and why the decision to not prosecute was pushed through before Chuseok despite the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's opinion that 'supplementary investigation' was necessary.

Regarding Minister Choo, the opposition is expected to launch a concentrated attack on the fact that her responses during the National Assembly confirmation hearings, the Budget and Accounts Committee, and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?over 20 times stating that she had '(absolutely) no involvement' in her son's leave extension and that she 'did not instruct the aide to make a call'?were 'false.'

Specifically, attention will be on how Minister Choo will respond to expected questions such as why she gave the aide the phone number of the KATUSA support officer, through what channel the support officer's phone number was obtained, the basis for her explanation that giving the phone number to the aide was not an instruction to 'make a call,' and the background behind promoting Prosecutor Kim, who is classified as part of Minister Choo's faction, to head of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.

Separate from the prosecution's dismissal of charges, opposition members are expected to pressure Minister Choo to resign, arguing that she must take 'political and moral responsibility' for providing false answers in the National Assembly.

Regarding Minister Choo's false testimony and her warning of follow-up actions against the media, a civic group filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission the day before, stating, "The Minister of Justice spread false information and infringed on the public's right to know, personal rights, and freedom of the press through illegal acts," and requested a decision recommending her resignation from the ministerial position.

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