In Autumn, Jeong Seong-ho Scolded "Do It in Moderation"... Ruling Party Supporters Launch 'Comment Bomb'

On the 12th, Clash Between Chu and Opposition in the Budget Committee Full Meeting
Chu Told "Please Moderate Yourself"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae attended the full meeting of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee on the morning of the 11th and greeted Chairman Jung Sung-ho. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Some pro-Moon Jae-in (친문) supporters are criticizing Jeong Seong-ho, the chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, who told Minister Chu Mi-ae to "please act within reason" during a heated exchange with opposition party lawmakers. However, there are also voices defending him, saying it is good to see someone standing by their principles.

On the 16th, Jeong’s Facebook post received critical comments from netizens presumed to be ruling party supporters. One netizen asked Jeong, "Either apologize to Minister Chu or leave the party if you cannot," and questioned, "Why are you throwing bait to the conservative forces?"

Other netizens also harshly criticized him with comments like, "You will likely lose in the next election," "This is your last time. Next time, run for People Power Party," and "If it weren’t for Minister Chu Mi-ae, you would have already been destroyed by the prosecution."

On the other hand, some voices expressed support for Jeong. One netizen said, "I agree with your statement that the world should be governed by common sense and reason," showing encouragement. Another netizen urged, "As the chairman of a legislative committee, you must conduct proceedings strictly and neutrally. Regardless of party lines, Chairman Jeong Seong-ho is a role model worthy of support," and added, "Let’s take off the colored glasses of factional logic and think about this."

Earlier, Minister Chu Mi-ae had a verbal confrontation with People Power Party lawmakers during the plenary session of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee held on the 12th.

At the meeting, Park Hyung-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out to Minister Chu, "There has been a lot of noise recently about special activity funds," and said, "I heard that some of the Ministry of Justice’s special activity funds were uniformly paid as employee encouragement money."

In response, Minister Chu cut off Park’s question and started speaking, to which Park replied, "The question is not finished yet." At that time, Chairman Jeong cautioned Minister Chu, saying, "Please listen to the entire question before answering."

However, Minister Chu interrupted Chairman Jeong as well and urged, "Please stop insulting or baseless remarks," to which Chairman Jeong raised his voice, saying, "Please act within reason. There was no insulting or such question. Please cooperate."

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

After the meeting ended, on the following day (the 13th), Representative Jeong expressed his feelings on his Facebook, saying, "I said just one word for smooth proceedings, and I am tired all day."

Meanwhile, on the 14th, Minister Chu posted a lengthy letter addressed to Chairman Jeong on her Facebook.

In the letter, Minister Chu said, "I feel embarrassed and sorry that you were tired all day because of one word," and "I fully sympathize with your regret that budget oversight activities are not highlighted and only noise is spotlighted, and I also feel sorry."

However, she pointed out, "If the repeated shouting questions to the minister without giving a chance to answer, intimidation, and insults do not change, it will cause severe self-loathing and discomfort and political disgust among the watching public."

She continued, "The Ministry of Justice should be pointed out and corrected if there are mistakes, but instead of proper verification and inspection at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, which handles large sums of money, they set up the head of the department and questioned him 11 times without any evidence, demanding to reveal that the Ministry of Justice (Prosecution) director shared 500,000 won each."

She then asked, "There may be misunderstandings, but please accept this generously, believing that it all comes from a sincere desire for reform."

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