Choo Mi-ae: "Do Not Overstate or Undervalue My Child"

"My husband and I have never filed a complaint"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 17th, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae commented on the Democratic Party of Korea's statement regarding her son, which described "dedicating one's body for the country as the duty of a soldier (위국헌신군인본분·爲國獻身軍人本分)" as exemplified by An Jung-geun. She said, "I hope people do not exaggerate or disparage my child with extreme terms such as imperial service or desertion, but see him as he is."

At a government questioning session on education, society, and culture held at the National Assembly that day, in response to a question from Kim Sang-hoon of the People Power Party, Minister Choo said, "I learned about it through the reports," and added, "It was not that my son was compared to An Jung-geun, but rather, as An Jung-geun said, serving the country is the duty of a soldier. I think the intention was to emphasize that he faithfully served despite being ill."

Regarding whether she had filed any complaints herself, Minister Choo stated, "I have never filed a complaint, and I confirmed that my husband has not filed any complaints either."

In response to Defense Minister nominee Seo Wook's remark that "Minister Choo's son was not subject to military exemption," she said, "Rather than saying he was exempt, the point was that if a medical certificate had been submitted or a re-examination requested, he would have been considered not a candidate for active duty."