Won Hee-ryong: "Choo Mi-ae, Using Ruling Party Supporters as Shields, a Burden on the Entire Community"

Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, is speaking at a breakfast meeting of the People's Power party-affiliated provincial governors held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, fiercely criticized Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae on the 30th, saying, "She is dividing the country into two by expanding her own faults into a factional issue," and called her "a burden to the entire community."

On the same day, Governor Won stated on his Facebook, "She is unqualified to be a minister. She does not even deserve respect for her record as a five-term lawmaker and former ruling party leader."

He pointed out, "Even in the investigation by the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, which has been criticized as 'the epitome of leniency,' her lies were clearly exposed, yet she continues to disparage the whistleblower," adding, "She threatened those who raised issues and criticized her by saying, 'Take strict responsibility, and follow-up measures will be taken.'"

Governor Won said, "At the same time, she dismissed criticism against her as an offensive by the conservative opposition and conservative media," and sharply questioned, "'You must not lie. Especially, do not lie in the National Assembly,' 'Do not have aides run personal errands,' 'Guarantee the neutrality of the prosecution'?is there anything wrong with these statements? Is this an issue to be divided between conservatives and progressives?"

He criticized, "Her shamelessness itself is a burden," and said, "She is expanding her faults into a factional issue and mobilizing ruling party supporters as a shield."

Governor Won pointed out, "Minister Choo is ordering, 'If I waver, the Moon Jae-in government wavers. To defend the Moon Jae-in government, defend me,'" and added, "There are quite a few people who say, 'We are Cho Kuk,' 'We are Choo Mi-ae.'"

He emphasized, "Is Moon Jae-in really Choo Mi-ae? President Moon must decide whether to take the two Ministers of Justice, Cho Kuk and Choo Mi-ae, as the standard for the current government."