Han Dong-hoon rebuts Kim Min-seok's 'prosecution collaborator' claim: 'Lies'

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon clashed on the 9th, offering conflicting claims over documents related to Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister.

At an on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the North Jeolla Provincial Office in Jeonju on the 9th, Kim took aim at Han, saying, "Calling him 'Joseon's finest sword' or 'Joseon's finest scissors' only feeds an obsession with being the very best." He added, "If you keep calling someone 'the finest,' they will truly believe it is a compliment," and suggested, "It might be more accurate to call him 'Joseon's defective sword' and 'Joseon's defective scissors.'"

Kim viewed the issue surrounding Han as a separate matter from Kim Seung-won's confirmation hearing. He claimed, "Rep. Han, who carried into the National Assembly the abuses of a politicized prosecution symbolized by the Cabinet leak and evidence tampering, is now delivering the final confirming shot himself." Of the materials Han has been releasing, Kim said, "This could never have happened without a collaborator inside the prosecution," adding, "If there is no collaborator and no basis, it can only amount to the spreading of falsehood."

In response, Han wrote on Facebook that day, "I will take criminal action against Chairman Kim for spreading false information." He said, "I have never received anything from the prosecution that even resembles the materials, so I will hold Chairman Kim strictly accountable for his groundless lies." Han added, "I did not provide the materials reported by The Hankyoreh and Nocut News, so by Chairman Kim's logic, the Democratic Party should probably file complaints against The Hankyoreh and others as well." He also said, "Since the facts don't work in their favor, they come out in force and stir up nonsense about 'scissor work' and whatnot." He countered, "Doesn't this make the illegal 'oppa' favor-peddling all the more clear?"

Han also crossed swords with Democratic Party Rep. Song Young-gil. Appearing on YTN radio's "Jang Sung-chul's News Myeongdang" on the 9th, Song criticized Han for releasing materials obtained during the investigation into Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, saying, "Dribbling out snippets — edited at that — to provoke misunderstanding and suspicion among the public and viewers repeats the misconduct typical of a special investigations unit prosecutor." He described Han's offensive as "not only unjust but a vile criminal act." On Facebook, Han derisively called Song "the Democratic 'oppa' of the New Millennium NHK room salon on the eve of May 18," urging, "At least in the 'Democratic oppa gate' affair, you should exercise restraint."

The confrontation has moved into a legal phase. After Han signaled criminal action against Kim, Kim in turn instructed the party leadership to keep pursuing the Han Dong-hoon case and prepare lawful measures even after the confirmation hearing concludes. Kim said that if prosecution insiders leaked documents related to the nominee, every one of them would face action under the law.