Chu Mi-ae faces Democratic Party criticism over political disputes

Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae is facing intense criticism from within the Democratic Party following a series of public disputes with President Lee Jae-myung and Party Leader Kim Min-seok.

Chu has targeted the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as the first head of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, accusing the Ministry of Interior and Safety of acting as a “mercenary” to protect Kim. She argued that Kim’s past refusal to approve forensic examinations of Han Dong-hoon’s mobile phone during the Channel A investigation should be a key part of his verification process.

Additionally, Chu has clashed with Kim Min-seok over the budget cuts for the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival and transparency regarding election consulting expenses. In response, lawmaker Park Jie-won criticized Chu, stating she was focusing on others' flaws while ignoring her own and urged her not to become a “Jang Dong-hyeok of the Democratic Party,” implying she should align more closely with the party leadership to ensure mutual success.