[Summary] Choo's "Democratic Party Comrade" Remark Sparks Opposition Backlash... "Forgetting Official Status," "Public Intimidation"

Chung Sung-ho Urges Autumn, "Tired All Day"
Autumn, "We Are Democratic Party Comrades Who Decided to Be Together"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to a lawmaker's question at the Budget and Accounts Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae of the Ministry of Justice, who referred to Jeong Seong-ho, chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, as a 'Democratic Party comrade,' faced continued criticism from the opposition on the 16th.

Lee Jong-bae, Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said at the party's emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "We have entered an era of excessive politics where public officials forget their status and engage in politics," adding, "Minister Choo appealed to Chairman Jeong, who criticized her attitude during the last Budget Committee meeting, asking to be lenient as they are 'Democratic Party comrades' who have agreed to work together."

Lee emphasized, "With this remark, Minister Choo declared before the entire nation that she is not the Minister of Justice for the Republic of Korea but a Democratic Party member who uses all power for the Democratic Party," and added, "Minister Choo’s forgetting her public official status alone is sufficient grounds for impeachment or dismissal."

Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also issued a statement that morning, saying, "The head of the investigated agency called the head of the investigating agency a 'comrade,'" and pointed out, "'Comrade' is usually a term used among party members within the party. Minister Choo, who responded with a poor attitude to recent inquiries from Budget Committee members, actually publicly intimidated the chairman who warned her."

He continued, "This is a shameless challenge to the separation of powers and fair budget review. Seeing one thing reveals ten. It shows how much the current power despises the National Assembly," adding, "It is an insult to the voters who created the 21st National Assembly and to the people witnessing this scene."

The People’s Party also raised voices of criticism. Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People’s Party, said in a statement, "Do you realize that most citizens are very tired and struggling day by day because of a reckless and immature minister who, driven by irrational thinking, engages in quarrels that go beyond noise pollution to the level of terror with opposition lawmakers?"

She added, "How can someone who is not a servant for the people but still thinks as a member of the power circle surrounding herself and acts only with transparent political calculations be supported and left unattended as the head of a nation's judicial department?" and urged, "We hope the President will make a prompt decision."

Jeong Seong-ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee, and Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, are talking at the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly on the 4th./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Earlier, Chairman Jeong, on the 12th at the Budget Committee meeting held at the National Assembly, told Minister Choo, who was arguing with opposition lawmakers, "Please moderate yourself," and subsequently faced harsh criticism from pro-Moon Jae-in supporters.

Later, he wrote on his Facebook, "I said just one word for smooth proceedings, and I have been tired all day," adding, "A world where common sense and reason prevail must come."

In response, Minister Choo posted on her Facebook on the 14th a message titled 'To Dear Comrade Jeong Seong-ho.'

She addressed Chairman Jeong, "I feel embarrassed and sorry that you were tired all day because of one word," and "I fully sympathize with your regret that budget monitoring activities have not been highlighted and only noise has been spotlighted, and I also feel sorry."

She also said about the Budget Committee, "Instead of proper verification and inspection questions at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which handles large sums of money, the director of the Ministry of Justice was put on the spot and questioned 11 times without any basis about distributing 500,000 won each," adding, "The real issue of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office special activity funds was covered up by diversion."

Finally, Minister Choo said, "As poet Do Jong-hwan said, 'There is no flower that blooms without shaking,' where is reform that happens without shaking?" and referred to Chairman Jeong, saying, "On that path, we are Democratic Party comrades who have agreed to work together."

She concluded, "There may be misunderstandings between us, but please accept it generously, believing that it all comes from a sincere desire for reform."

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