Democratic Party Hurls Scathing Attacks at Han Dong-hoon and Joo Jin-woo, Calling Them 'Petty Political Operatives'

Park Sung-jun, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo at a written briefing on the 5th, calling them "petty political operatives with prosecutorial backgrounds (politicians who previously served as prosecutors)" and saying they are "identical as twins." Park pointed out, "Politics that relies solely on incitement with extreme rhetoric is running rampant. Han Dong-hoon plays the lead role, and Joo Jin-woo the supporting role."

Spokesperson Park went on to raise the two lawmakers' past controversies one after another. He cited, in turn, the party members' bulletin board incident that led to Han's expulsion from the People Power Party, Han's refusal to disclose his mobile phone password during the investigation into allegations of collusion between prosecutors and journalists, and the case of alleged external pressure in the investigation into the death of Corporal Chae. His point was that the two are engaging in political agitation, resorting even to outrageous rhetoric, to evade suspicions surrounding themselves.

Regarding Han, who has claimed that allegations of former President Roh Moo-hyun receiving money were 'fact,' Park criticized him, saying, "The shameless behavior of insulting someone with inflammatory language and then demanding that the insulted victim prove it was an insult is enough to make Goebbels weep."

As for Joo, who faced criticism for a personal attack after calling actor Yoo Hae-jin a "North Korean look-alike," Park retorted that he is "the very embodiment of a wolf in sheep's clothing," adding, "He mocks other people's faces, yet can he not see his own cunning face reflected in the mirror?"

Park said, "Their behavior—throwing South Korean politics into disarray with the tactics they learned working as political prosecutors under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration—is identical as twins," adding that the two lawmakers should first answer the questions raised against them before pointing out others' faults.

In an additional written briefing the same day, spokesperson Park went so far as to urge investigative authorities to look into whether Han was involved in the insurrection. The Democratic Party claims that Han, then the ruling party's leader, moved on December 8, 2024—immediately after the December 3 insurrection—to exclude former President Yoon Suk-yeol from his duties and discuss state affairs with then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Park stated, "Han Dong-hoon, who attempted a seizure of power alongside Han Duck-soo, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison at the appellate court for performing key duties in an insurrection, is by no means less culpable," and added, "Just as Han Duck-soo has stood in court, Han Dong-hoon must also be brought before the judgment of the law."