Joo Ho-young: "Choo Mi-ae's Response Attitude Is Hard to Watch... Cannot Acknowledge Prosecutor's Investigation"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, described Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's attitude during the recent interpellation session as "arrogance and sophistry that one cannot bear to watch with eyes open, a display of a sharp tongue," and said, "Although the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office is investigating, we do not recognize the results of that investigation."

At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th, Floor Leader Joo said, "(The investigation team) is composed of prosecutors sent by Minister Choo and people she appointed, and the investigation has already been delayed by eight months."

He added, "During the four days of interpellation, our lawmakers worked hard, and especially, they did a great job showing the public Minister Choo's sharp tongue and unfairness," but lamented, "What is regrettable is that such sharp tongues and groundless sophistry were not rebuked and were just passed over."

Floor Leader Joo said, "What remains now is to reveal the facts and truth based on the actual circumstances," and reiterated, "Although the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office is investigating, we do not recognize the results of that investigation."

He questioned, "Which citizen would accept and believe a situation where someone publicly declares their innocence regarding their own case and then prosecutors and chief prosecutors they appointed conclude the investigation?" He added, "If Minister Choo is confident, she should request a special prosecutor or a special investigation team from the National Assembly to clarify the matter. She should not decide her own case by herself."

Floor Leader Joo said, "How much national division and waste of national power has this (Minister Choo's son's allegations) caused, and how much have the prosecution, Ministry of National Defense, and Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission been damaged trying to protect one person?" He emphasized, "Many materials are coming out, and to prevent the prosecution from being damaged, a neutral, principled, and independent investigation team that the public can trust must step forward."

Regarding the comprehensive questioning at the Budget and Accounts Committee held that day, Floor Leader Joo said, "Having four supplementary budgets in one year is the first time in 59 years since 1961," and pointed out, "Especially this 4th supplementary budget is entirely financed by debt of 7.8 trillion won, which our children and the next administration will have to repay."

He also criticized the 20,000 won communication fee support included in the supplementary budget, saying, "930 billion won borrowed is scattered in 20,000 won increments, making it meaningless," and stressed, "This cannot continue as is."

Regarding the April 15 general election, Floor Leader Joo pointed out that 125 election lawsuits have been filed, but "not a single trial has started," and criticized, "The law requires trials to be completed within six months, but with less than a month left, no first trial has been held, and no verification dates have been set. Is there a problem with the vote count?"

He added, "We will confirm this again at the Judiciary Committee," and said, "If there is no perception that the head of the judiciary conducts fair and independent trials, we will hold them accountable through impeachment or other procedures."

Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae also criticized, "Minister Choo arrogantly and sophistically blamed opposition lawmakers during the interpellation and scolded them with a high-handed attitude," and said, "She mocked the public by saying her son has practiced the patriotic spirit of An Jung-geun, and now she has put up a shield to prevent further probing into her son's private life."

Chairman Lee said, "Distorting the public's legitimate questioning of these suspicions as an invasion of personal privacy and misleading public opinion," and added, "Minister Choo should promptly resign for the sake of the country and the president, and if she does not resign voluntarily, the president should dismiss her."