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| Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae receives an award from the Heritage of Korean Independence, a group of independence fighters and their ancestors, at the group's building in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
The Heritage of Korean Independence's choice of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae as the recipient of an award honoring a supporter of the independence movement against Japanese colonial rule has triggered controversy here.
Choo received the Choi Jae Hyung Award from the group, comprised of independence fighters and their ancestors, during a ceremony, Monday, at the organization's office in Yeouido, Seoul. The award was created in 2018 to honor Choi (1860~1920), a businessman and independence activist in the late Joseon period who moved to Russia and used most of his assets to support Korea's interim government and activists like An Jung-geun.
But a separate commemorative association for Choi has taken issue with the selection process to determine the recipient of the award. "It is a disgrace to Choi's honor to hand out the award without approval from our association and bereaved family members," Moon Young-sook, chief of the commemorative association, said in a statement. She visited the Heritage of Korean Independence Monday to protest the award, saying that the selection was politically biased.
The Heritage of Korean Independence said that the award was given to Choo for the efforts the Ministry of Justice has made to collect assets of pro-Japanese collaborators while she was in office. Since she took office in January 2020, property worth of about 52 billion won held by pro-Japanese figures has been reverted to the state, according to the association.
Choo is the third recipient of the award, after former lawmaker Kim Sang-hyun, and Yoo In-tae, former secretary-general of the National Assembly Secretariat.
Choo, who offered her resignation last month, appeared at the award ceremony in person, defying speculations that she may not show up due to the resignation offer. She has been at the center of political controversy with her battle with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over judicial reform. "It is the duty of an official of the Moon Jae-in administration to be committed to justice," Choo said at the ceremony.
