Choo Mi-ae, former chairperson of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, was nominated new justice minister Thursday, amid a power abuse scandal involving Cheong Wa Dae.

The five-term lawmaker will succeed Cho Kuk, her embattled predecessor who resigned over corruption allegations involving his family and who now faces additional power abuse allegations.

“Choo was a judge known for her people-centered philosophy. As a judge and lawmaker, she has displayed strong convictions and will deliver the judicial reforms people desire,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said at a press briefing.

The justice minster nominee said she would bring about political change. “It is time for prosecution and judicial reforms. I intend to do my best to deliver that,” she told reporters at the National Assembly.

Choo will oversee prosecutors looking into power abuse accusations against the Blue House, and corruption allegations against her predecessor Cho Kuk. Observers speculate that Choo will rein in prosecutors leading the investigations.

The Blue House, which is accused of suspending the inspection of a corruption case and influencing a mayoral election, denies any wrongdoing. It believes the prosecution is trying to undermine the reforms that would decentralize its powers.

The prosecution reform bills – sitting on the parliament floor for discussion – will give some of prosecutors’ powers to police and to a new anti-corruption body that will be responsible for probing corruption charges involving ranking officials.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which is pushing the bills, is urging the main opposition Liberty Korea Party to rethink its decision to stage a filibuster to delay voting on them.

Choo, a five-term lawmaker who entered politics in 1996 after leaving the judiciary, served as chairperson of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea from 2016 to 2018. President Moon Jae-in was voted into the office during her leadership.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)