Choo Mi-ae's Son's Side Releases Hospital Diagnosis... "Required Stabilization Treatment"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 25th of last month. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Amid growing suspicions surrounding the extension of the medical leave of Mr. Seo, son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Mr. Seo's side has disclosed related documents including hospital medical certificates.

On the 6th, Mr. Seo's lawyer stated, "Even after the press release, we were aware that questions regarding the 'basis for the medical leave' still remained, so we decided to additionally disclose Mr. Seo's medical certificates and other medical records that served as the basis for the medical leave."

The materials released by the legal team on this day include three documents: a record of left knee surgery dated April 7, 2015; a medical certificate dated April 5, 2017, stating that 'right knee surgery is necessary'; and a medical certificate dated June 21, 2017, stating that 'recovery after surgery requires about three months of rest.'

First, the lawyer explained, "After enlistment, Mr. Seo experienced severe pain not only in his left knee but also in his right knee, leading him to seek medical treatment. Since he was a soldier at the time, a diagnosis from a military hospital was required before receiving surgery or treatment at an external hospital. To apply for this diagnosis, he obtained an opinion letter from his attending physician at Samsung Seoul Hospital."

Mr. Seo showed the opinion letter from Samsung Seoul Hospital to the unit's support team leader and applied for a diagnosis at the military hospital. Based on the diagnosis received at the Armed Forces Yangju Hospital on April 12, 2017, he took medical leave from June 5 to 14 of the same year. He then extended the medical leave until the 23rd and additionally took four days of personal leave before returning to the unit on the 27th.

The lawyer added, "During the first medical leave, on June 8, he underwent surgery on his right knee, but as the pain and swelling did not subside, he applied for an extension of the medical leave. Upon request for necessary documents, we submitted all materials including medical certificates, copies of medical records, hospitalization records, and admission and discharge confirmations."

Meanwhile, Mr. Seo served as a KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the United States Army) soldier in the US 8th Army Korea Support Group, 2nd Infantry Division area, in 2017 when Minister Choo Mi-ae was the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Although Mr. Seo did not receive approval for an extension of leave on June 23, 2017, the day his second medical leave ended, he did not return to the unit. Allegations arose that undue influence was exerted to cover this up, sparking controversy.