Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice. Photo Collaboration Foundation
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon criticized the remarks of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong, who referred to the prosecution’s investigation as “the price of losing the presidential election,” saying, “If you won the presidential election, it sounds like you would have mobilized your power and crushed the case.”
Minister Han met with reporters at the Gwacheon Government Complex of the Ministry of Justice on the 31st and said, “If the crime of receiving more votes disappears, it is not democracy.”
At a National Assembly press conference the previous day, CEO Lee responded to the prosecution’s second request to appear in connection with the suspicion of corruption in the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town development projects in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. The prosecution’s investigation was defined as political retaliation following the defeat in the presidential election.
Regarding Lee’s remarks about the suspicion of remittance to North Korea, Minister Han said, “We should respond with evidence and facts just like other citizens, rather than saying such ambiguous words. In the end, that is all that remains in criminal justice,” he said.
Regarding the fact that CEO Lee said that he wanted to attend the second investigation on the weekend following the first investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, he said, “It is clear that this is a rare event,” and “the prosecution will proceed with the investigation process on its own.”
Regarding the Democratic Party’s insistence on conducting a special investigation on the so-called ‘Channel A case’, Minister Han said, “Since the court has confirmed innocence, shouldn’t we create a special court rather than a special prosecutor?” You will remember for a long time that the Democratic Party took the lead to discredit me through the ‘Channel A Coalition Case’.”
Regarding Democratic Party spokesman Kim Eui-gyeom’s assertion that “the prosecutors in charge of the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case were demoted,” Minister Han said, “I was reported that all my wishes were reflected (in the personnel affairs) and all were successful.” He said, “It is more news that Spokesperson Kim is maintaining the position of party spokesperson even though he is caught lying every time.”