People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee visiting Chair Choo Mi-ae in protest (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-sung = Rep. Park Hyung-soo, the People Power Party’s executive secretary for the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and other members speak to reporters on the 1st at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, after failing to meet with Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae to protest the committee’s operation.

From left: Reps. Park Jun-tae, Cho Bae-sook, Park Hyung-soo, Shin Dong-wook, and Kwak Kyu-taek. 2025.9.1 utzza@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporters Choi Pyeong-cheon, Noh Sun-woong, Oh Gyu-jin = Lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP) on the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee demanded the resignation of Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae (Democratic Party) on the 1st, alleging she unilaterally formed the committee's subcommittees.

Rep. Park Hyung-soo, the PPP’s executive secretary for the committee, visited the chair’s office along with fellow committee members—including Reps. Cho Bae-sook, Kwak Kyu-taek, and Shin Dong-wook—to lodge a protest. He told reporters afterward, "Every schedule for the standing committee and the assignment of PPP members to subcommittees is being decided at the whim of Chair Choo," adding, "We demand her immediate resignation."

He further remarked, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee has become 'Choo Mi-ae’s world,'" questioning, "Is the committee the Chair's private property or a tool to appeal to her hardline supporters?"

Rep. Park criticized the move, stating, "The People Power Party repeatedly requested that Rep. Cho Bae-sook be placed on the first subcommittee and Rep. Joo Jin-woo on the second, but Chair Choo completely ignored these requests and appointed Rep. Park Jun-tae to the first subcommittee. She is committing an unprecedented legislative tyranny by ignoring the opposition's requests and appointing members as she pleases."

Rep. Park added, "We asked the Democratic Party’s executive secretary to appoint members to the first subcommittee according to our requests, in line with custom and common sense, but Chair Choo replied that she 'has no intention of doing so.'" He slammed the response, stating, "When an apology would barely suffice, saying she has no intention to comply is something that should never happen in the National Assembly."

When asked about the possibility of filing a complaint against Chair Choo with the Special Committee on Ethics, Rep. Kwak replied that it is "under review."

The PPP committee members visited the chair's office on this day but were unable to meet with Chair Choo as she was absent.

Democratic Party Spokesperson Kim Ji-ho [Yonhap News file photo]

In response, the Democratic Party strongly urged the PPP to "immediately withdraw the appointment of Rep. Na Kyung-won as the executive secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

Spokesperson Kim Ji-ho stated in a briefing that day, "The People Power Party has appointed Rep. Na Kyung-won as the executive secretary for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. This decision is an act of mockery toward the National Assembly and judicial justice, and it exposes a serious moral hazard."

Spokesperson Kim emphasized, "Rep. Na has been standing trial as a defendant for six years in connection with the National Assembly 'fast-track' collision case. It is ironic and contrary to public common sense for a person involved in a violence case that violated the National Assembly Act to become the executive secretary of the committee that oversees the judiciary."

He added, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee is not a means for shielding specific individuals or a playground for conflicts of interest; it is a place for upholding the rule of law and justice. If the People Power Party fails to observe even the minimum moral standards, they will inevitably face the consequences through the judgment of the people."

pc@yna.co.kr

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