"Writing a Novel?" vs "Holding the Stick Until the End" - Opposition 'Boiling' Over Autumn's Rebuttal

Choo Mi-ae "Novel" Opposition "Shameless Face"... Another Clash

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is answering questions at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice held on the 12th in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae engaged in a heated exchange with lawmakers from the People Power Party on the 12th over allegations of preferential treatment during her son's military service. The opposition even used strong language, saying, "If you just apologize cleanly, it would be over, but you keep beating the dead horse." Minister Choo fiercely criticized the People Power Party lawmakers who repeatedly raised the issue, saying, "Are you trying to write a full-length novel instead of letting the fiction end as fiction?"

During the Ministry of Justice audit by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day, Minister Choo completely denied the allegations of preferential treatment during her son's military service, saying, "Considering the nine-month-long saga amplified by the media and the opposition, it is absurd."

Yoon Han-hong, a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out, "(Regarding the allegations of preferential treatment for Minister Choo's son) Whether it is guilty or not is for the prosecutor to interpret, but the lies the minister told in the National Assembly cannot be turned into truth by the prosecutor." He continued, "How strong-hearted and shameless do you have to be? There were 27 lies in just one month of September." Minister Choo retorted, "You scolded me 27 times, didn't you?"

When Yoon again criticized, "Just because you have power and influence to cover it up doesn't mean lies become facts," Minister Choo responded, "I never asked to cover anything up," and countered, "Please provide evidence of what was fabricated or covered up."

When Yoon said in disbelief, "Truly amazing," Minister Choo replied, "Yes, amazing." When Yoon sarcastically repeated, "A truly remarkable person," Minister Choo shot back, "You are remarkable too, Congressman."

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions during the National Assembly inspection of the Ministry of Justice held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 12th.

Additionally, when Jeon Ju-hye, a People Power Party lawmaker, questioned, "Earlier, Minister Choo said she had no time to contact her aide, but the revealed KakaoTalk messages show they communicated, so I am requesting an apology regarding the truthfulness of that statement," she answered, "I don't remember."

Kim Do-eup, the opposition party's secretary, called the audit a "Choo Mi-ae bulletproof audit," saying, "They point out the controversy over 27 lies, and when she says she was 'scolded,' I say let's adjourn and verify."

The opposition's criticism of Minister Choo's attitude continued outside the National Assembly. Kim Geun-sik, a professor at Gyeongnam National University and the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district chairman, criticized on his Facebook on the 12th, saying, "She has quite a thick face."

He added, "When it was revealed that the aide's number was sent due to the prosecution's investigation, Minister Choo now claims she doesn't remember. If it was a long time ago and uncertain, she should have said 'I don't remember' in the previous 27 responses instead of saying 'I never instructed it.'"

He then argued, "As the party leader, in the midst of such a busy schedule, her son specifically asked his mother to ask the aide, and the busy party leader sent the officer's number to the aide via text, and immediately after the aide made a call, reported the follow-up to Minister Choo. How can this not be an instruction?"

He emphasized, "If the minister's testimony in the audit is false, she will be punished for perjury. If she apologizes cleanly, it would be over, but she keeps beating the dead horse."

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