People Power Party to File Complaint Against Choi Min-hee Over 'Wedding Cash Controversy' at Communications Committee

Ruling Party: "Returning wedding gifts aligns with public expectations... cannot comprehend the reason for the complaint."

People Power Party to File Impeachment Motion Against Minister of Government Legislation After Audit for 'Not Guilty' Remarks Regarding President Lee

Chairperson Choi Min-hee views a message about wedding gifts for her daughter's wedding (Seoul=Yonhap News) National Assembly Member Choi Min-hee of the Democratic Party and Chairperson of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, who caused controversy due to her daughter's wedding during the parliamentary audit period, is seen looking at a Telegram message related to wedding gifts in the National Assembly plenary hall on the 26th. This message, listing names of large corporations and media outlets along with amounts, is presumed to be exchanged between the chairperson and her aides during the process of returning the wedding gifts. 2025.10.26 [Provided by The Seoul Shinmun. Reprints and database prohibited] utzza@yna.co.kr

The People Power Party announced on the 27th that they would file a complaint against Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, over allegations that she received wedding gifts from supervised institutions and corporations for her daughter's wedding held at the National Assembly during the parliamentary audit period. The party stated, "She extorted money from supervised institutions using her authority as a public official."

Park Seong-hoon, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, told reporters after a supreme council meeting, "The nature of this offense is very serious," stating this remark.

The previous day, a media camera captured Choi Min-hee reviewing a Telegram message in the National Assembly plenary hall that listed the amounts of wedding gifts received from supervised institutions, including domestic large corporations, media outlets, and some politicians. In response, Choi explained that she had instructed her aides to return the wedding gifts received from institutions and corporations.

Chief Spokesperson Park stated, "This matter involves multiple legal issues. It could be extortion by extorting money from supervised institutions, or it could be a bribery charge," adding, "We will proceed with the relevant legal procedures in conjunction with violations of the Kim Young-ran Act."

Regarding Choi's explanation that she returned the wedding gifts received from supervised institutions, he said, "Even so, it is difficult to make the act of extortion and receiving bribes as if it never happened. Bribery is established the moment it is received," and continued, "The intention to return is not important. It is clear that she received money, and since the giver of the money is a supervised institution, it is inevitable to assume she had the intent of bribery."

In response, Park Soo-hyun, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated, "It is natural for a public official and in line with public expectations to return wedding gifts from individuals or organizations related to the performance of her duties as the chairperson of the committee, or wedding gifts that she did not fully recognize."

He added, "I do not believe this is a matter that requires action from the party level," and concluded, "I cannot comprehend the reason why the chairperson's conduct, which is in line with public expectations as the chairperson of the committee, should be subject to a complaint."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party also announced that they would pursue legal procedures, including filing a complaint and an impeachment motion after the parliamentary audit concludes, against Minister of Government Legislation Cho Won-cheol for his remarks during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's parliamentary audit, stating, "I believe all 12 charges against President Lee Jae-myung are not guilty."

Chief Spokesperson Park stated, "Minister Cho's remarks are far removed from the attitude a public official should have from the perspective of the entire public. It is as if he used public funds to pay President Lee's personal legal fees," and continued, "We can never allow a public official with such a wrong mindset to work in the Korean government."

Addressing claims by some that the Minister of Government Legislation is not subject to impeachment, he retorted, "That is entirely untrue. The Constitution defines the Minister of Government Legislation as a public official stipulated by other laws," asserting that he is indeed subject to impeachment. Yonhap News

Minister of Government Legislation Cho Won-cheol answering questions (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-seong = Minister of Government Legislation Cho Won-cheol is responding to a question from a committee member during the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Government Legislation held at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul on the 24th. 2025.10.24 utzza@yna.co.kr