[2020 National Audit] Jeon Hyun-hee: "No Change at All in Conflict of Interest Judgment for Cho Kuk and Chu Mi-ae"

Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission attended the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee hearing on the 15th, providing a work report on the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, emphasized on the 15th that the Commission's interpretation of conflict of interest regarding the investigation of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family and the preferential treatment allegations involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son "has not changed at all."

At the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee hearing that day, Chairperson Jeon said, "I apologize for causing political misunderstandings, but I have never engaged in any actions that could be misconstrued in the slightest."

She added, "Regarding former Minister Cho, although we could not verify individual facts at the time, the Commission had already responded in writing that there was no conflict of interest in cases where there was no direct supervision or reporting related to specific duties."

She continued, "I was not involved at all in the legal interpretation, but I am mindful of political neutrality and will do my best to ensure such issues do not arise in the future."

In response to People Power Party lawmaker Sung Il-jong's criticism that the Commission's inquiry to the Ministry of Justice about Minister Choo's son was "like asking a thief whether they stole or not," she explained, "Since the Commission does not have investigative authority, we took the form of requesting cooperation."

The People Power Party has criticized the Commission for interpreting the conflict of interest issue differently regarding Minister Choo compared to when former Chairperson Park Eun-jung acknowledged the possibility of conflict of interest concerning former Minister Cho, calling it "protection of the regime."

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