Choo Mi-ae Sparks Another Verbal Clash... Ruling Party Budget Committee Chair Says, "Please Moderate Yourself"

Budget and Accounts Special Committee Full Meeting Debate
Inquiry on Special Activity Expenses and Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Investigation Issues

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending and responding at the plenary session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Suwan Kim] On the 12th, during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee meeting reviewing next year's budget, a verbal dispute continued between Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and lawmakers from the People Power Party. Jeong Seong-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker and the committee chair, criticized Minister Choo's attitude in responding. As Minister Choo repeatedly interrupted and argued before opposition lawmakers finished their questions, Chair Jeong intervened, saying, "Please moderate yourself."

At the meeting, Minister Choo engaged in a heated exchange with opposition lawmakers over current issues such as special activity expenses and the investigation of the Wolseong nuclear power plant. People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo pointed out to Minister Choo, "There has been a lot of noise recently about special activity expenses. I heard that some of the Ministry of Justice's special activity funds were paid out as lump-sum employee incentives." In response, Minister Choo cut off Park's question and said, "Do you remember the money envelope dinner incident involving former Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Young-ryeol? Since then, such payments have not been made." Park protested, "My question is not finished yet."

Observing this, Chair Jeong cautioned Minister Choo, saying, "Please listen to the entire question before answering." Minister Choo replied, "If there are insulting or baseless remarks, I ask the chair to intervene," but Chair Jeong raised his voice, saying, "Please moderate yourself. There were no insulting questions. I ask for your cooperation."

Lawmaker Park chuckled and said, "I asked if special activity expenses were ever paid as employee incentives. Is that insulting?"

Minister Choo then continued the exchange with People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom. Yoo claimed that Shim Jae-cheol, Director of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Bureau, who appeared before the National Assembly the previous day, admitted that since his appointment in August, he distributed cash from special activity expenses to prosecution bureau staff.

In response, Minister Choo shouted, "Please provide evidence. If you cannot provide evidence, you must take responsibility. Do not hide behind parliamentary immunity." As Minister Choo's tone grew louder during her response, lawmaker Yoo tried to restrain her, saying, "Please answer with dignity," but Minister Choo retorted, "This is dignified enough."

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