Suspicions Surrounding Choo's Son and New Weapons at North Korea's Military Parade... Parliament Boiling Over

Second Week of National Audit: Ruling and Opposition Parties Accelerate Disputes
Opposition: "Lime and Optimus Power Corruption"
Ruling Party Strongly Responds to Allegation Inflation
Joo Ho-young Confirms "No Intention to Abandon North Korean Nuclear Weapons"
Lee Nak-yeon Positively Evaluates Kim Jong-un's Remarks

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th and is talking with Joo Ho-young, the floor leader, during the meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] As the first National Assembly inspection of the 21st National Assembly enters its second week, the disputes over North Korea's 75th anniversary military parade of the Workers' Party, the shooting incident involving Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials, and allegations of preferential military service for Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son are reaching a climax. In particular, starting this week, the Lime and Optimus scandals, which involve suspicions of connections to ruling party figures, are emerging as a new flashpoint. The People Power Party has labeled this case a "power-type gate" and even mentioned the introduction of a special prosecutor. The opposition party plans to focus its questioning on the alleged involvement of ruling party officials, the Financial Services Commission's poor management and supervision, and the responsibility of securities firms for incomplete sales during the Financial Services Commission audit at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee.

On the 12th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Lime and Optimus scandals at an early strategy meeting for the inspection held at the National Assembly, saying, "If we leave this investigation team as it is, a proper investigation cannot be conducted," and added, "The investigation team should be replaced promptly, and a special investigation unit or special prosecutor appointed by the Prosecutor General should be appointed to satisfy the public." He further pointed out, "It seems to be turning into a power-type gate of the Moon Jae-in administration," and said, "According to documents secured by the prosecution, many government and ruling party officials are among the fund beneficiaries, and there are indications that they were involved in the actual fund operation process." Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, also sharpened his criticism, calling it "a power-type corruption gate scandal that disrupts our country's financial order," and said, "It is hard for us to imagine how meticulously ruling party figures used power to pick investors' pockets and carried out team play."

The Democratic Party of Korea responded strongly to the opposition's exaggeration of suspicions. At the highest council meeting that day, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, said, "Various unclear suspicions are being raised. I hope the prosecution will conduct a strict and thorough investigation of anyone involved and reveal the truth without leaving any suspicions," and added, "We will respond firmly to baseless false claims or exaggerations of suspicions."

The dispute over the new strategic weapons unveiled by North Korea at the military parade is also expected to intensify. At the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Chairman Kim said, "President Moon Jae-in should calmly consider how the military threat revealed at North Korea's military parade will affect South Korea's security in the future," and launched a fierce attack, calling it "a clear violation of the military agreement and a security threat." Floor leader Joo also raised his voice, saying, "North Korea is clearly declaring externally that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear and missile forces under any circumstances," and added, "It is very questionable whether President Moon's awareness of security still considers the declaration of the end of the war valid even after seeing the openly displayed ICBMs and SLBMs. He must clearly explain to the public why the declaration of the end of the war is being made at this juncture."

Leader Lee said, "The enhanced weapons such as the new ICBM show that North Korea has not abandoned its will to develop weapons of mass destruction, which raises concerns as it could threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world," but added, "However, Chairman Kim Jong-un's vocal expression of hope that the North and South will once again join hands is evaluated as a positive remark that could breathe new life into inter-Korean relations."

Minister Choo Mi-ae will appear in person for the National Assembly inspection targeting the Ministry of Justice by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Following the first week, allegations of preferential military service for Minister Choo's son are expected to be raised again. Previously, the People Power Party requested about 20 ordinary witnesses related to the allegations concerning Minister Choo's son, but the Democratic Party rejected all of them.

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