Kim Geun-sik "Chu Mi-ae, revealing reporter's face and refusing to go to work? Control your temper"

"Refusal to Go to Work Due to Media Exposure... Considering Retirement from Politics"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is leaving the Ministry of Justice at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi-do around lunchtime on the 14th.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong party committee, criticized Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae for refusing to go to work after revealing a reporter who was so-called 'stretching out' in front of her house, saying, "Please calm down."

On the 15th, Professor Kim shared an article titled "Choo Mi-ae 'Won't Go to Work if Filmed in Front of Her House'... Han Dong-hoon Receives Third Appointment" on his Facebook and said, "Minister Choo, you really have quite a temper. I am well aware of your stubbornness when you were the chairperson of the Environment and Labor Committee in the past, but this is a different matter."

Professor Kim said, "For a politician-turned-minister, reporters are like fate," and questioned, "A person who even served as party leader refuses to go to work because of media exposure? Is this a declaration to return as a private individual rather than a politician? Are you planning to retire from politics?"

He pointed out, "Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was also uncomfortable with reporters waiting in front of his house but never refused to go to work," and added, "And claiming it is to protect the minister's privacy while openly revealing the reporters' faces is a contradictory act that can only be explained as venting frustration."

He continued, "Protection of privacy and freedom of the press must go hand in hand. In my opinion, photos of the minister on the way to work should be allowed," and argued, "Reporters waiting in front of the house due to political issues is not a year-round occurrence; even Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has experienced this frequently."

He added, "Please calm down. The one-point personnel appointment of Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon is misunderstood as a retaliatory act because of this. Ordering Prosecutor Han, who openly criticized the minister's remarks, to be transferred to Jincheon immediately is obviously a case of 'O-Bi-I-Rak' (coincidence mistaken for causation)," and concluded, "If you are confident and dignified, please show a more magnanimous and inclusive attitude."

Two photos posted by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on her Facebook on the 15th. The photos include an image of a photographer holding a camera. Photo by Choo Mi-ae Facebook screen capture

Earlier that day, Minister Choo posted two photos on her Facebook showing a reporter holding a camera and expressed her displeasure, saying, "Even the entrance of my apartment, a private space, has been invaded."

Minister Choo said, "This morning, a reporter appeared at the apartment entrance holding a camera," and added, "About a month ago, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson sent an official letter to each media outlet requesting cooperation to restrict filming in front of the apartment as it is a private area, but the reporter said they didn't know about that and insisted on continuing to 'stretch out'."

She continued, "Since the reporter is obstructing my commute, I will stay at home and work until this situation ends," announcing she would work from home.

She also added, "For the past nine months, the media has taken full-body photos of me anywhere and asked inconsistent questions as if dealing with a dangerous criminal," and said, "The apartment residents who witness this are also very uncomfortable."

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