Choo Mi-ae, "Amend the National Assembly Act to reduce the function of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee... Kim Kyung-soo's own goal? Nonsense, pathetic"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Former Minister of Justice and Democratic Party presidential candidate Chu Mi-ae criticized the decision for the People Power Party to take the position of Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the second half of the 21st National Assembly (next year), stating for the second consecutive day that "we can discuss amending the National Assembly Act to reduce the functions of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, after attending the funeral of former Jogye Order General Secretary Wolju at Geumsansa Temple in Gimje, Jeonbuk, Chu told reporters, "Because the Legislation and Judiciary Committee holds the authority for systematic and textual review, it plays the role of obstructing other standing committees and acts as an overbearing power that it should not." She added, "Since the transfer of the committee chair to the opposition party is scheduled for the second half, there is still time."

Chu explained, "By forming an expert committee for systematic and textual review to examine government laws and regulations, similar to the functions of the Ministry of Government Legislation, the National Assembly can also have such a function, thereby preventing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from acting as an overbearing power."

She added, "During the second half, if the National Assembly Act is amended to reduce the functions of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the legal systematic and textual review functions are assigned to a separate expert organization, the issue can be resolved without any problem."

On the 25th, Chu also stated on Facebook, "The Democratic Party should withdraw the mistaken deal to transfer the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the opposition party, and the National Assembly should establish a specialized organization for systematic and textual review like the government's Ministry of Government Legislation." This was a direct criticism of the agreement between the ruling and opposition floor leaders to distribute the standing committee chair positions 11 to 7 in the first half of the 21st National Assembly and to assign the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair to the People Power Party in the second half.

She emphasized, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee should not become a bargaining chip for any party, and the National Assembly should prioritize the people over party interests."

Meanwhile, regarding the controversy over Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's 'Baekje remark,' Chu said, "Venerable Wolju was a teacher-like figure at the center of social reform and transformation movements," and dismissed the issue by saying, "I do not want to respond to such trivial and outdated worldly matters at a funeral like this." She further called it "a trivial, dust-like matter" and avoided further comment.

Regarding criticism that Chu's remarks on former Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was convicted in the 'Druking comment manipulation' case, were a 'self-own goal,' she firmly stated, "Politics should be political, and dragging politics into the mud is undesirable."

She continued, "Failing to properly reform the prosecution, the 70 years of accumulated deep-rooted evils keep holding back and dragging the past, and it is pathetic to make such nonsensical remarks during the ruling party Democratic Party's presidential primary. I hope such behavior is avoided from now on," she said sternly.

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