Why Did Choo Mi-ae Read a Book in the National Assembly Plenary Hall? [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Choo Mi-ae Reads Book Criticizing Prosecution at National Assembly Plenary Session
Interpreted as Sending Message Emphasizing Necessity of 'Prosecution Reform' to Media
Opposition: "Ignoring Opposition Filibuster Against Forced Passage of Corruption Investigation Office"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is sitting in the minister's seat in the plenary hall ahead of the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th, taking out a book titled "The Reason I Left the Prosecution" from her bag. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 9th, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae was captured by media cameras reading a book titled "Why I Left the Prosecutors" in the National Assembly plenary session hall, where bill deliberations were ongoing. This book was published on the 11th of last month by lawyer Lee Yeon-ju, a former prosecutor, and according to the publisher's description, it contains the anguish of a prosecutor (the lawyer) who had no choice but to leave the prosecution.

However, aside from the book's content, there are critical voices in the political circles regarding Minister Choo's actions that day. It is pointed out that the reason Minister Choo took out this book in the National Assembly plenary session hall, where reporters were present, was likely to emphasize the necessity of prosecutorial reform.

While Minister Choo was reading the book, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, was continuing a filibuster (unlimited debate) against the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) Act. Because of this, some interpret Minister Choo's actions that day as a response to opposition party claims. Political commentators and experts analyzed that all words and actions of politicians have a purpose.

Minister Choo remained the only cabinet member present until midnight on the 10th, when the regular National Assembly session ended, continuing her "late-night reading." Notably, while reading, she underlined the part stating, "Specialized prosecutors tried to sacrifice the Central Investigation Department to protect the Prosecutor General's position."

Later, five minutes before the plenary session ended, Minister Choo posted on her Facebook, quoting from the book: "Prosecutors who are in a position to investigate crimes related to prosecutors' duties face a dilemma of whether to betray the people or betray the prosecution... In any case, the cost of betraying the people is not high for prosecutors, but the cost of betraying the organization is high." She added, "There is no longer any reason to hesitate about the HOCI."

On the afternoon of the 9th, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae was underlining the part that reads "Specialized prosecutors tried to sacrifice the Central Investigation Department to protect the Prosecutor General's position" while reading the book titled "Why I Left the Prosecution" at the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Yonhap News

◆ Opposition: "The National Assembly Plenary Hall Is Not a Library... Intentional 'Photo Politics'"

As Minister Choo was seen reading a book emphasizing the need for prosecutorial reform in the National Assembly plenary hall, criticism has also arisen surrounding this act.

Kim Jong-min, a lawyer from Dongin Law Firm and former member of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Reform Committee, wrote on his Facebook, "On the day the plenary session passed the amendment to the HOCI Act, Minister Choo was caught on camera bringing and reading a book written by lawyer Lee Yeon-ju." He criticized, "It is a humiliating day in constitutional history that marks the death of the rule of law in the Republic of Korea and the beginning of the Moon Jae-in administration's dictatorship. As the minister in charge, was it really necessary to stage this in front of reporters? I feel ashamed."

Kim added, "Looking up author Lee Yeon-ju in the legal directory, she completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 2001, served as a prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office for about a year, and then resigned." He continued, "If she wanted to write a book, she should have done so earlier. I don't understand why she wrote it after 20 years. Minister Choo, who served five terms as a lawmaker and even as party leader, bringing a book by a lawyer who was a prosecutor for only one year two decades ago to the plenary session as if it were a bible and deliberately exposing it in front of camera reporters shows a complete lack of shame."

Kim Geun-sik, professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Gyeongnam National University and head of the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee, also condemned the act on Facebook: "The National Assembly plenary hall is not a library, nor a place for cabinet members to read. A cabinet member openly reading a book during bill voting and parliamentary proceedings is an act of disrespect towards the National Assembly." He added, "Especially, it is a rude act to regard the filibuster by opposition lawmakers opposing the forced passage of the HOCI Act as 'dog barking.'"

Professor Kim said, "Reading a book criticizing the prosecution openly in the plenary session hall, where camera reporters are focused, is obviously intended as 'photo politics.' Regardless of the author's claims, who only has one year of prosecutorial experience, the Minister of Justice deliberately exposed a biased book suitable only for prosecutorial reform slogans in the National Assembly plenary session, at a time when she is engaged in an extreme conflict with the Prosecutor General and just one day before the disciplinary action against the Prosecutor General."

He continued, "Minister Choo really does all sorts of things. She tries so hard. Is she that insecure?" He criticized, "After the Choo-Yoon war ends, she should resign as Minister of Justice and write a book titled 'Why I Left the Ministry of Justice,' reflecting and repenting herself."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is arriving at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 10th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "Politicians' Words and Actions Are All Political Messages"

Amid ongoing criticism in political circles over Minister Choo's so-called "reading in the National Assembly plenary hall," this is not the first time she has revealed her message in front of the media.

On September 21, during a full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly, when Defense Minister Seo Wook, who was present with Minister Choo, said, "You must be very uncomfortable," she replied, "It's ridiculous. That person is better off not being a prosecutor and becoming a lawmaker," adding, "It seems like they will catch many innocent people." Although it was a private conversation with Minister Seo, the microphone was on and it was broadcast live.

Following this, there were protests that "that person" referred to Kim Do-eup, a People Power Party lawmaker who asked aggressive questions toward Minister Choo. Some also pointed out that as a five-term senior politician and former party leader, Minister Choo could not have been unaware that the microphone was on. Shortly after the controversy, Minister Choo apologized, saying, "I regret it for the smooth progress of the meeting" and "I am sorry."

Earlier, in July, cameras caught Minister Choo reading materials related to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's wife and mother-in-law on her mobile phone in the plenary hall. Some interpreted this as an attempt by Minister Choo, who is in conflict with Prosecutor General Yoon over prosecutorial reform, to pressure him.

Experts analyze all these situations as actions with political purposes. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon emphasized, "The act of having one's mobile phone caught by media cameras in the National Assembly plenary hall is a politically motivated act." He explained, "Politicians' words and actions all have purposes. Even if they appear to be mistakes, most are politically intended acts."

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