Choo Mi-ae, former Minister of Justice under the Moon Jae-in administration, appointed as Chair of the Judiciary Committee

The Democratic Party of Korea has appointed Choo Mi-ae as the new chair of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, following the resignation of former chair Lee Chun-seok amid allegations of stock underreporting.

On the 6th, floor leader Kim Byeong-ki stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "Given the extraordinary and emergency situation, we have requested that Choo Mi-ae, who can lead judicial reform most adeptly, take on the position of chair of the Judiciary Committee, breaking away from the usual method of selecting committee chairs."

Choo has served as Minister of Justice during the Moon Jae-in administration and is the most senior member of the Democratic Party, having been elected six times. She has actively participated in various committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Special Committee on Judicial Reform, during the 20th National Assembly.

The appointment of Choo as chair of the Judiciary Committee, which plays a crucial role as a gateway for legislative reform, reflects the party's determination to smoothly advance judicial reform, which is a core national task of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae also emphasized on Facebook after the Supreme Council meeting, "We will promptly proceed with the selection of Choo Mi-ae as the new chair of the Judiciary Committee." He added, "Special situations require special responses. We will handle judicial reform, media reform, and regulatory reform swiftly."

"A thief's seat cannot be filled by a serial killer."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party has demanded that the chair of the Judiciary Committee be relinquished to them immediately following the resignation of former chair Lee Chun-seok.

However, floor leader Kim rebutted this in the morning on the YouTube program "Jang Yoon-seon’s News Convenience Store," stating, "(To put it metaphorically) it doesn't make sense to pass the Judiciary Committee chair to a murderer, especially a serial killer, because of theft. So, I will consider it nonsense and move on."

Min Jin-seok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader, also firmly stated to reporters, "The chair of the Judiciary Committee belongs to the Democratic Party, so no matter how many times the opposition demands it, it is not something we can give up."

The Democratic Party plans to process Choo's appointment as chair of the Judiciary Committee during the National Assembly's plenary session, expected on the 21st.

Image Sources: Choo Mi-ae, member of the Democratic Party of Korea / News1, last month on the 23rd, Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, speaks with Choo Mi-ae at the 427th session of the National Assembly (extraordinary session) in Yeouido, Seoul. / News1, on the 6th, Kim Byeong-ki, floor leader of the Democratic Party, delivering remarks at the Supreme Council meeting in Yeouido, Seoul. / News1