Did Choo Mi-ae Really Not Know the Mic Was On... Politicians and the Politics of 'Backtalk'

Criticism Unaware Mic Was On... Phone Exposed on Media Cameras
Seen as Mistake but Also Viewed as 'Political Act'
Expert: "Most Politicians' Words and Actions Have Political Intent"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions from lawmakers at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is facing backlash from the People Power Party after criticizing an opposition lawmaker with a background as a prosecutor, unaware that her microphone was on in the National Assembly. Some speculate that regardless of whether the microphone was on, Minister Choo may have spoken with a certain political intent.

This is not the first time a politician has spoken behind the scenes, unaware that the microphone was on. Previously, former Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young and former Blue House policy chief Kim Soo-hyun criticized government officials, unaware that the broadcast microphones were on.

Additionally, there are many cases where lawmakers’ mobile phones are exposed to the media in the National Assembly plenary sessions, and the content becomes public. Some view this as a deliberate political act to reveal their political beliefs or messages externally. A political commentator stated that all actions by politicians are believed to have some intent.

On the 21st, during the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (LJC) held at the National Assembly, after a recess was declared, Minister of National Defense Seo Wook said, "You must be very uncomfortable," to which Minister Choo responded, "It's absurd. That person did well not to be a prosecutor but to be a lawmaker," adding, "It seems like they will arrest several innocent people."

Although the conversation between the two was private, it was broadcast live through the microphone. While the remarks did not specify anyone, it appeared to point to Kim Do-eup, a People Power Party lawmaker with a prosecutorial background who was present.

The opposition immediately reacted. Yoo Sang-beom, a lawmaker from the same party, said, "After Minister Choo’s 'writing novels' remark, how much controversy has there been in the LJC?" and criticized Minister Choo’s behavior, saying, "What on earth is she doing speaking like that with the microphone on just because she didn’t like the questioning lawmaker?"

Kim Do-eup, member of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Do-eup, a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out, "Minister Choo expressed regret but prefaced it with 'for the smooth progress of the meeting,'" adding, "I don’t know how to judge that remark."

In response, Minister Choo apologized, saying, "I regret it for the smooth progress of the meeting," and "I am sorry."

Earlier in July, Minister Choo also caused controversy by telling an opposition lawmaker who questioned her about her son’s military service, "You’re writing novels."

At that time, during the LJC full meeting, Yoon Han-hong, a People Power Party lawmaker, asked Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Ki-young, "You were suddenly appointed deputy minister after serving as the head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office. Was this related to the investigation of Minister Choo’s son?" Minister Choo responded, "You’re writing novels."

Following the controversy, Minister Choo appeared at the National Assembly’s political sector government questioning session on the 14th and apologized, saying, "I will endure attacks against me, but on that day, Yoon Han-hong asked Deputy Minister Ko Ki-young a very uncomfortable question, 'Did you come to that position as a reward for handling my son’s case well?' It was a monologue expressing a sense of insult that I thought was a bit too much," and "I am very sorry."

Former Democratic Party Floor Leader Lee In-young (right) and former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Soo-hyun (left) having a private conversation, unaware that the microphone was on [Image source=Yonhap News]

There have been previous cases where remarks made unaware that the microphone was on caused controversy. On May 10 last year, the second anniversary of President Moon Jae-in’s inauguration, a party-government-Blue House meeting was held at the National Assembly members’ office building.

This meeting also commemorated the 6th anniversary of the Democratic Party’s 'Euljiro Committee' (Euljiro Minsheng Practice Committee) and discussed organic cooperation between the party and government on livelihood measures.

At the meeting, former Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young and former Blue House policy chief Kim Soo-hyun sat side by side. Before the meeting started, Lee In-young said, "When government officials don’t listen well, I have to handle all of that..." Kim Soo-hyun replied, "Please do. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like the 2nd anniversary but more like the 4th anniversary for the government."

Then Lee said, "Frankly, Minister Kim Hyun-mi (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), in that short month, they did a lot of strange things among themselves..." Kim responded, "The current bus crisis is also because of that..." Lee added, "If you give them a little chance, they do absurd things..."

The conversation ended when they realized the microphone was on. When the conversation was made public, there were reactions from the opposition saying it felt like 'power harassment' of public officials and that it was "an admission of lame duck," emphasizing that the Blue House is not a place to lord over others.

However, there is also a view that these remarks were made deliberately with political intent. Summarizing the two’s remarks that day, it appears they were criticizing the bureaucratic society’s inertia.

Meanwhile, there are also cases where the mobile phone contents of lawmakers attending plenary sessions are captured by media cameras and their messages are disclosed externally. Some see this as lawmakers deliberately exposing their beliefs or messages to the media to communicate externally.

In July, Minister Choo was caught on camera reading materials related to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl’s wife and mother-in-law on her mobile phone in the plenary session. Some speculated that this was an attempt by Minister Choo, who is in conflict with Prosecutor General Yoon over prosecutorial reform, to pressure him.

On November 11, 2016, Park Ji-won, then Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People's Party, is checking a text message sent by Lee Jung-hyun, then leader of the Saenuri Party, at the National Assembly plenary session where an urgent question session was held to investigate the so-called 'Choi Seo-won Gate'.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, in 2016, then Saenuri Party (now People Power Party) leader Lee Jung-hyun’s text messages to Park Ji-won, then chairman of the People’s Party Emergency Committee and floor leader, were caught on media cameras. The messages read, "Loyalty loyalty loyalty, Minister. I love you. Loyalty," and "Minister, please let Jung-hyun respect and love you until I die."

However, these messages were disclosed three months after being sent through Park, leading to criticism that there was a political motive behind deliberately revealing the messages sent by Lee.

Kim Jin-tae, then Saenuri Party lawmaker, criticized, saying, "It’s a scheme to disgrace and remove him from the leadership," adding, "It’s embarrassing for Lee and makes Park look good."

Experts analyzed that politicians’ actions are essentially calculated behaviors. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon interpreted, "Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae speaking unaware that the microphone was on, and her mobile phone being caught on camera in the National Assembly plenary session are mostly political acts with intent," emphasizing, "All words and actions of politicians have a purpose. (Mistakes reported by the media) are almost always acts with political intent."