[2020 National Audit] Jang Je-won’s Remark “I Will Stay in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee While the Minister Is There” Causes Laughter from Chu Mi-ae

Jang Je-won Receives Praise from Yoon Ho-jung and Baek Hye-ryun During Policy Inquiry
Ministry of Justice Afternoon Audit Continues 'Choo Mi-ae's Son' Controversy
Prosecutor General's Report on Kang Ki-jung's Bribery Testimony... Prosecutor General's Office Director Gives Ambiguous Answer

On the afternoon of the 12th, during the Ministry of Justice audit by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae smiled when People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won responded to her remark, "The Public Administration and Security Committee should also visit for the autonomous police," by saying, "As long as the minister is here, I will remain in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee." / Photo captured from National Assembly Broadcasting screen

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Ministry of Justice’s National Assembly audit by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 12th continued into the afternoon with a fierce confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the allegations of ‘failure to return from leave’ involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s son.

When opposition lawmakers persistently questioned Minister Choo’s statement that the answers given in the National Assembly related to her aide were not false, ruling party lawmakers stepped in to defend her, leading to loud exchanges.

During the additional questioning following the main inquiry, some lawmakers’ policy questions also stood out. In particular, when People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won questioned Minister Choo, she showed a slight smile, and after his remarks, Democratic Party lawmaker Baek Hye-ryun praised him.

Confrontation over Choo Mi-ae’s Son Continued into the Afternoon

That afternoon, Minister Choo counterattacked People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong, who was questioning her about her son, saying, “If the investigation was wrong, please provide evidence.”

In response, Lawmaker Yoon pointed out, “The minister’s lies are all recorded in the National Assembly’s video transcripts. Even the obedient prosecutors appointed by the minister cannot turn those lies into truth,” adding, “According to media reports, the number of lies told in the National Assembly is 27.”

Minister Choo replied, “I must have been scolded 27 times,” and loud voices erupted again in the audit hall. Although People Power Party members requested to make procedural remarks, Committee Chair Yoon Ho-jung did not grant them the floor.

At around 3:55 p.m., People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won obtained the floor for a procedural remark and emphasized, “The chair said we keep asking the same questions, but this is Minister Choo’s first face-to-face meeting with our National Assembly members after the falsehoods she told in the plenary session, the Budget and Accounts Committee, and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee were revealed as lies in the Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office investigation records. Therefore, we are focusing on questioning her about the falsehood controversy.”

Lawmaker Jang criticized, “Whether intentionally or unintentionally, didn’t the minister say something different in the National Assembly where she has been involved for 20 years? If she had at least expressed minimal regret about that, this ongoing confrontation would not have continued.”

After the main questioning ended, policy questions from lawmakers continued during the supplementary questioning.

Lawmaker Jang Je-won Praised for Policy Questions... Minister Choo Declines Suggestion to Visit Ministry of the Interior and Safety

In particular, Lawmaker Jang proposed to Minister Choo that a permanent consultative body involving the Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, and senior Blue House officials be continuously maintained and consulted until the adjustment of investigative authority is completed, and he recommended the full implementation of the autonomous police system.

He also presented a model for investigative authority adjustment that maintains checks and balances among the prosecution, the National Investigation Agency, and the autonomous police system.

Minister Choo responded, “I find many parts quite agreeable,” and added, “There are limits even as the Minister of Justice. It might be better if Lawmaker Jang also goes to the Interior and Safety Committee to help ensure the autonomous police system functions properly.”

To this, Lawmaker Jang said, “I will remain in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as long as the minister is here,” and Minister Choo laughed and replied, “Yes.”

Committee Chair Yoon Ho-jung said after Lawmaker Jang’s questioning, “Thank you for your sincere questions and hard work.”

The next speaker, Lawmaker Baek Hye-ryun, said, “I think I should also praise Lawmaker Jang Je-won,” adding, “How great is it to ask policy questions like this? I think he will receive a good score in today’s rating.”

Shim Jae-cheol, Director of the Prosecutor’s Office, Did Not Directly Report to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol Regarding Kang Ki-jung During His Tenure as Head of the Anti-Corruption Department at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office

Meanwhile, Shim Jae-cheol, Director of the Ministry of Justice’s Prosecutor’s Office, appeared evasive when asked by People Power Party lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye whether he reported the fact of money delivery related to former Blue House senior secretary Kang Ki-jung to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, “I understand it was reported through various channels.”

In response, Lawmaker Jeon asked again, “Weren’t you the head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Anti-Corruption and Violence Department at the time? Then wouldn’t you report such matters directly to the Prosecutor General? Have you ever personally reported to Prosecutor General Yoon?”

However, Director Shim avoided answering, saying, “It was reported. But I find it difficult to discuss the specific and detailed reporting procedures or processes.”

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