Park Soo-hyun: "Haven't heard of any lawmakers returning congratulatory money... Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Defends Choi Min-hee... "While criticism of a wedding during parliamentary audit is possible, we must consider the newlyweds' pain"

Democratic Party Chief Spokesperson Park Soo-hyun at a press conference (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-sung = Democratic Party Chief Spokesperson Park Soo-hyun is holding a press conference on current issues, including real estate measures, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on October 26, 2025. 2025.10.26 utzza@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Young-shin = Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said on the 28th regarding the opposition party's criticism of his party colleague Choi Min-hee holding her child's wedding ceremony at the National Assembly during a parliamentary audit, "Isn't that enough now?"

In a Facebook post on the same day, Park mentioned Choi's return of congratulatory money received from an agency under audit, stating, "I was ashamed watching Representative Choi. I couldn't even identify 'conflict of interest congratulatory money' like Representative Choi, let alone have the courage to return it."

He added, "Among all National Assembly members, I have never heard of any other lawmaker like Representative Choi returning congratulatory money," quoting a Bible verse: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

Park said, "Representative Choi may face criticism for holding her child's wedding during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly, or for conducting personal business in the plenary session hall. However, even in such cases, we must consider the pain the newlyweds have to endure. What about the lives of these two young people whose happiest moment has turned into suffering?"

Earlier, Choi's daughter had her wedding ceremony at Sarangjae in the National Assembly on the 18th, during the parliamentary audit period.

On the 26th, Choi was seen checking a Telegram message containing names of representatives from large corporations and media outlets, along with the amounts of congratulatory money, during a plenary session of the National Assembly.

Choi's side stated that the congratulatory money was being returned, but the People Power Party has raised criticisms against Choi, including bribery, conflict of interest, and mobilizing staff for personal errands, and is demanding her resignation as the chairperson of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee.

shiny@yna.co.kr

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