The People Power Party will file a complaint against Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Choi Min-hee. Choi, who serves as the National Assembly Science, Technology, and Broadcasting and Communications Committee chairperson, recently sparked controversy by holding her daughter's wedding at the National Assembly during the audit period.
People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog said at the supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 27th, regarding the wedding of Choi's daughter, "There is a strong possibility of violating the Kim Young-ran Act, and there is a lot of talk in legal circles that there is a high possibility of bribery," adding, "These days, there is a lot of talk that Choi Min-hee, the science and ICT committee chairperson, is drawing more attention than former general affairs secretary Kim Hyun-ji."
Song referred to a message in which Choi sent her aides a list of those who gave congratulatory money at her daughter's wedding, saying, "From what I saw in the photo, they were checking very meticulously who gave congratulatory money and how much."
Song said, "Receiving 1 million won each from officials at agencies under oversight is not a small amount," adding, "They said this would be returned, but it is also hard to verify whether that means receiving cash and then returning it by bank transfer. The prevailing view in legal circles is that even if a bribe is returned, the crime is still established."
He said, "Having aides organize private congratulatory money is clearly an abuse of power," adding, "Chairperson Choi is not fit to remain in that position. Resign immediately as science and ICT committee chairperson and faithfully submit to the investigation."
Other People Power Party leaders voiced the same view. Supreme council member Yang Hyang-ja said, "Countless public officials and lawmakers who have handled their children's celebrations are appalled at Chairperson Choi's audacity and brazenness," adding, "Who wouldn't want to do everything for their child's wedding? But if you are a public official, you should show restraint, and if there is criticism, it is right to bow your head and apologize before the media and the public."
Supreme council member Kim Jae-won also said, "I expected Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae to become the MVP of the National Assembly inspection, but Choi Min-hee is newly emerging," adding, "Chairperson Choi said she studies quantum mechanics, so I wondered if she was studying fortunetelling or palm reading, but she is showing a strong knack for numbers."
Kim said, "From a criminal law perspective, bribery is clear," adding, "Even if it does not constitute bribery, if it is over 1 million won, it is a violation of the Kim Young-ran Act. Since lawmaker Choi is the worst kind of power-abusing lawmaker, there is a high possibility that many people were extorted."
Supreme council member Woo Jae-joon said, "Holding a child's wedding at the National Assembly during the National Assembly inspection period and receiving large sums of congratulatory money from agencies under oversight is an act with a very high possibility of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and could also constitute bribery," adding, "I am seriously concerned whether, as one Democratic Party lawmaker said that about 1.5 billion won is a working-class apartment, you all thought that if everyone is supposedly working class, anyone can easily receive several million won each in congratulatory money."
Regarding the controversy over Choi, the Democratic Party is drawing a line. Senior spokesperson Park Soo-hyun of the Democratic Party met with reporters in the morning and said, "As the science and ICT committee chairperson, it is only natural to refund congratulatory money from individuals or organizations related to the title or performance of duties, or those not recognized," adding, "I do not think this is a matter for the party to take action on."