Minister Chu's 'Ironclad Defense' Led by Ruling Party, Ministry of National Defense, and Anti-Corruption Commission... 20s Turning Away

Ruling Party: "Facts Clear," "Practicing Ahn Jung-geun's Words in Person," Continued Support for Choo
Opposition: "National Institutions Collapsing," "Defense Ministry Reduced to 'Choo Bang Bu'," Criticism
Citizens: "Government and Ruling Party Refuse to Admit Mistakes"
'Support for Choo Mi-ae's Resignation' Most Prevalent Among 20s

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding during the political sector interpellation held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 14th.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] Amid growing controversy surrounding allegations of 'preferential treatment during military service' involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son, Seo Mo, ruling party lawmakers have been continuously voicing support for Minister Choo.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) have also effectively taken a stance to 'protect Minister Choo' by concluding that there were no serious misconducts related to the minister's son.

As a result, voices criticizing the defense of Minister Choo have been rising both inside and outside the political sphere. Among people in their 20s, public opinion calling for Minister Choo's resignation is spreading.

The Democratic Party has defined the current controversy surrounding Minister Choo as a political smear and intends to respond accordingly. Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon emphasized at the Supreme Council meeting on the 14th, "The facts are clear," and "the more definite truth will be revealed through the prosecution's investigation."

He added, "I hope the prosecution conducts a thorough and swift investigation and makes the results public." He warned the opposition party, "If political attacks continue, we will respond and block them with facts."

Some Democratic Party lawmakers also continued to make excessive supportive remarks about Minister Choo and her son Seo. Park Sung-joon, the party's floor spokesperson, mentioned in a statement on the 16th that Seo "personally practiced the words of Ahn Jung-geun, who said 'It is a soldier's duty to dedicate his body for the country,'" defending Seo by referring to Ahn Jung-geun, but deleted the comment after controversy arose.

Lawmaker Yoon Gun-young defended Minister Choo regarding allegations that the minister and her husband directly called the Ministry of National Defense's civil affairs office to inquire about Seo's leave extension, saying, "If a family calling the civil affairs office is considered a request, then everyone calling the community service center would be a request." He added, "If it is out of a parent's or family's concern, I think it is acceptable to call the Ministry of National Defense's civil affairs office," supporting Minister Choo.

Lawmaker Jung Chung-rae said during a government questioning session on the 14th, "As a mother, you must be going through a lot emotionally. Please stay strong."

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo attended the government questioning session on diplomacy, unification, and security held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 15th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense dismissed allegations that Seo's first and second sick leaves totaled 19 days and that he took sick leave unrelated to medical treatment, stating, "It was conducted according to regulations and procedures," denying preferential treatment.

Ministry of National Defense deputy spokesperson Moon Hong-sik said at a regular briefing on the 14th, "There are records related to Seo's sick leave, so it appears that procedures were followed." However, regarding discrepancies in leave records, he said, "This is something that should be confirmed through the prosecution's investigation."

The Ministry also emphasized that there is no procedural problem regarding allegations that Seo inquired about leave extension by phone, stating, "If there is an unavoidable reason during leave, extension is possible by phone or other means."

The ACRC also issued a judgment supporting Minister Choo. On the 14th, the ACRC ruled that Hyun Mo, the on-duty soldier who first raised suspicions about Seo's military service, "does not qualify as a whistleblower" in his application for whistleblower protection measures.

The ACRC also judged that there is "no specific job-related connection" between Minister Choo's duties and the prosecution's investigation of her son Seo, concluding that there is no conflict of interest despite the Minister of Justice holding personnel authority over the prosecution.

As excessive defense of Minister Choo emerged not only from ruling party lawmakers but also from state agencies, voices condemning this have erupted simultaneously in the political arena.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, lamented at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th, "Three state agencies?the prosecution, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission?have been ruined trying to protect Minister Choo or Private Seo (Minister Choo's son)," adding, "All state agencies that should be strict to protect one person have collapsed."

People Power Party lawmakers on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee issued a statement on the 15th, saying, "In just one day, the ACRC has become the 'Regime's ACRC,'" and "It is heartbreaking that a state agency established to protect the people's rights is now solely covering up and defending the regime's corruption. We demand the immediate resignation of Chairwoman Jeon Hyun-hee, who has reduced the ACRC to the 'regime's lapdog.'"

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo also posted on his Facebook on the 16th, criticizing, "Politics is just a passing breeze, but the Ministry of National Defense stepping up as the frontline defense for Minister Choo's son means the Ministry of National Defense has fallen from a national defense agency (Gukbangbu) to a 'Choo Defense Department (Chubangbu).'"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending the Cabinet meeting held on the 15th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Citizens observing this are also raising critical voices. Office worker A (29) said, "Following former Minister Cho Kuk, now Minister Choo Mi-ae, is this what the government calls fairness?" and added, "Listening to the excuses and explanations for each allegation makes me burst out laughing. What is most intolerable is the attitude of not admitting wrongdoing and the government and ruling party's behavior of merely defending it."

A criticized, "Has the government or ruling party ever properly explained and apologized for problematic allegations such as the Cho Kuk incident, the Incheon International Airport Corporation incident, or the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park Won-soon? Now, I cannot trust what the government or ruling party says."

Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted by polling specialist R&Search on behalf of Dailyan from the 14th to 15th, among 1,007 adult men and women nationwide, 55.7% responded that they 'support Minister Choo's voluntary resignation or dismissal,' which was 17.3 percentage points higher than the 38.4% who 'oppose' it.

Support was highest among those in their 20s at 59.7%. Those in their 30s were second highest at 58.4%, followed by 50s at 56.1%, and 40s and those aged 60 and above at 53.1%.

Experts analyzed that Minister Choo's explanations and supportive remarks by ruling party lawmakers are negatively affecting public opinion among people in their 20s.

Jang Sung-chul, director of the Sympathy and Debate Policy Center, appeared on YTN's 'Night Focus' on the 16th and said, "Most people in their 20s have served in the military," explaining, "I couldn't even take leave when I was sick, nor could I extend leave with a single phone call. How did Minister Choo's son receive such treatment? Isn't this preferential treatment? It feels unfair."

Director Jang added, "Military issues concern the entire nation. My child, my older brother, or my friend could be serving. The public opinion calling for (Minister Choo's) resignation is quite high. The opposition party should stop making supportive remarks that go against public sentiment. Minister Choo should also refrain from making explanations that seem unreasonable to us."