Choo Mi-ae "Apologize for Causing Concern to the People... Will Devote to Prosecutorial Reform" (Comprehensive)

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae / Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 28th, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said, "I sincerely apologize once again for causing concern to the public due to baseless and indiscriminate political attacks against my son."

Minister Choo stated this in a text message sent to the press corps through the Ministry of Justice in the afternoon, saying, "The allegations related to my son, which began with my term as minister, have today been processed as no charges by the prosecution."

Minister Choo added, "I hope that the conclusion of this investigation will prevent further loss of national power, help us escape unnecessary political strife, and serve as an opportunity to focus on prosecutorial reform and pressing public issues." She continued, "I will devote myself to completing prosecutorial reform through the prompt launch of the investigation agency and reform of investigative authority."

On the same day, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict four individuals: Minister Choo, her son Mr. Seo, former National Assembly aide Mr. A, and the battalion commander Mr. B, who was the approver of Seo’s military leave. The prosecution concluded that it was difficult to see any coercion or external pressure during Seo’s military leave application and usage process, and that there was no illegal procedure in the leave extension process.

Mr. Seo was suspected of receiving various special favors, such as not returning to the unit despite not obtaining approval for an extended leave while serving as a KATUSA soldier in the U.S. 8th Army Korea Support Group, 2nd Infantry Division area battalion in 2017. In particular, allegations were raised that Mr. A, who was then Minister Choo’s aide, exerted external pressure by calling the military during the leave extension process to cover up the issue.

The allegations first surfaced during Minister Choo’s confirmation hearing at the end of last year. At that time, the opposition party, the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), alleged that Seo took leave during his KATUSA service in June 2017 and did not return, but Minister Choo exerted external pressure to cover up the incident.

Minister Choo completely denied the allegations, but the opposition party filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on January 3rd of this year, the day after Minister Choo began her term, accusing her of aiding and abetting obstruction of official duties by coercion and dereliction of duty. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office assigned the case to the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in the same month, and the investigation team concluded the investigation on this day after about eight months.