Choo Mi-ae Faces Consecutive Criminal Complaints Over Assembly Testimony and 'Firefighting Budget' Remarks

The civic group Citizens' Action for Establishing Judicial Justice (SCS) visited the Suwon Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong) around 11:00 a.m. on October 20 and filed a criminal complaint seeking the punishment of Governor Choo Mi-ae on charges of abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, obstruction of business by deceit, and violation of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal Before the National Assembly.

Prior to submitting the complaint, SCS Standing Representative Kim Han-mei held a press conference and claimed that Governor Choo gave false answers during the Gyeonggi Provincial Government audit by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on October 13 regarding a lawmaker's inquiry about the procurement contract for a new official vehicle.

"Governor Choo claimed during the audit that the recently controversial procurement contract for a new official vehicle for the governor was decided by her predecessor, former Governor Kim Dong-yeon," Kim pointed out, adding, "However, the side of former Governor Kim maintains that it is hard to accept that a new official vehicle was purchased right before the end of his term."

"She gave false testimony contrary to objective facts, and therefore she must bear legal responsibility for perjury," Kim added.

In addition, Kim criticized Governor Choo for causing financial losses to the province by signing a lease contract worth 1.22 billion won in provincial funds for her official residence, even while drastically cutting Gyeonggi Province's budget.

Kim also argued that Governor Choo abused her authority, stating, "As petitions urging the governor's resignation increased on the Gyeonggi provincial government's petition website, she forcibly closed them after just a few days, unlike the usual practice of guaranteeing a 30-day agreement period."

Previously, SCS filed a complaint against Governor Choo with the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency on September 15 on charges of abuse of authority and breach of trust.

On October 19, the previous day, Governor Choo was also reported to the Jungsucheong by the livelihood-focused conservative civic group Citizens' Countermeasure Committee for Livelihood on charges of abuse of authority, obstruction of business, and defamation.

The grounds for the complaint are that during the Public Administration and Security Committee audit on October 13, Governor Choo referred to firefighting-related budgets by saying, "Firefighting seems to be the most troublesome 'financial straw,'" and that after paying her respects at the mortuary of the late Fire Inspector Kim Jin-seok—who died in the line of duty during a factory fire in Bucheon on October 17—she stated, "Since you want an apology, I apologize with all my heart," which the group claims defamed firefighters who died in the line of duty and active-duty firefighting officials.

(Photo: Provided by reader, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.