Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
Justice minister becomes headache for ruling bloc
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, center, talks with Unification Minister Lee In-young during a National Assembly plenary session, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
A slew of negative headlines on Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's handling of her family's affairs is becoming a major headache for the ruling bloc.
The former chairwoman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been bombarded by allegations raised by the opposition that she exercised her influence to get special treatment for her son while he was serving his mandatory military service between 2016 and 2018. It has also been alleged that employees from her office were also involved. The allegations are expanding to include an unapproved extended vacation after a medical procedure and a request for the son, who was serving in the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA), to be assigned to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics as an interpreter.
The allegations have aggravated mistrust in the Moon Jae-in administration, which has promised to establish justice and fairness in all corners of society. In particular, any irregularity involving the mandatory military service of public servants and elected officials has triggered a particularly sensitive reaction from the public in Korea where all able-bodied men have to fulfill the duty.
The DPK is defending Choo by calling the allegations raised by the opposition “a political offensive,” amid concerns the situation could result in a decrease in public support for the ruling bloc.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is likening the former five-term lawmaker and former judge to her predecessor and President Moon's close aide Cho Kuk, who stepped down amid allegations that he and his wife used their influence to further their children's academic careers.
“The people who watch the allegations unfold are getting a sense of deja vu from the Cho case, which undermined justice in the education system,” said Kim Chong-in, interim leader of the PPP, in a party meeting, Monday. “Choo must resign immediately to take responsibility for the allegations.”
The PPP are demanding Choo's resignation and the appointment of a special prosecutor to ensure a fair investigation into the case, which the prosecution has been investigating for the past eight months but with which it has not made much progress. The opposition parties claim Choo's job as justice minister, who has the authority to supervise the prosecution, may hamper a proper investigation.
“The current situation is affecting the President's approval ratings,” Rep. Choi Hyung-du of the PPP said in media interview, Tuesday. “If the ruling bloc prevents the appointment of a special prosecutor, then it will cause bigger problems. This could bring about calls for her resignation or dismissal.”
The Choo case has become a burden for the President as well. The latest surveys show that the President's job approval rate among people in their 20s, who pay close attention to issues of education and military service, has declined considerably.
Choo has denied the allegations.