Choo Mi-ae steps down as judiciary committee chair after reform push

Mar 23, 2026, 09:43 am

		0
Choo Mi-ae, chair of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, spoke during an emergency press conference on prosecution reform at the National Assembly on March 17. /Song Eui-joo

Choo Mi-ae resigned as chair of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on March 23, saying she had fulfilled her mission to complete key prosecution and judicial reform measures.

At a press conference, Choo said, “With the prosecution reform bills—my final responsibility—passed at the plenary session, I return the position entrusted to me by the people.”

Her resignation also signals a shift toward her anticipated bid for Gyeonggi governor.

Choo highlighted her achievements during her seven-month tenure, noting that 682 reform and livelihood-related bills were processed under her leadership.

“These included the three major judicial reform laws—the Criminal Act introducing the crime of judicial distortion, the Constitutional Court Act allowing constitutional complaints against court rulings, and the Court Organization Act expanding the number of Supreme Court justices—as well as legislation to abolish the prosecution service and establish new agencies for indictment and investigation,” she said.

She added that institutional measures were also introduced to address national security-related cases, including the creation of a special court division for insurrection-related trials and a second comprehensive special prosecutor law.

Following her resignation, Choo is expected to focus on her campaign for Gyeonggi governor. She is currently one of three candidates—alongside Kim Dong-yeon and Han Joon-ho—who have advanced to the Democratic Party’s primary for the post.

“I will lead Gyeonggi, the heart of Korea, to victory and usher in an era of popular sovereignty together with the Lee Jae-myung administration,” Choo said.

#Choo Mi-ae #judiciary committee #prosecution reform #judicial reform