Park Ji-hyun Targets Han Dong-hoon: "Resign According to Professional Ethics and Conscience"

"Ministry of Education Survey Should Expand to All Universities and Periods to Eradicate Admission Corruption"

Jihyun Park, Co-Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Park Ji-hyun, Co-Chair of the Emergency Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, on the 27th, saying, "Confess your past wrongdoings according to professional ethics and conscience, and resign."

At the party's emergency committee meeting that morning, Park said in response to Han's remark that "It is a matter of professional ethics and conscience for a ministerial candidate responsible for the field to be cautious and remain silent," directed at President Moon Jae-in, "While working as a prosecutor, he broke the law, engaged in illegal gift transfers and false residence registrations, and as a mere ministerial candidate, he overturned the decisions of 110 People Power Party lawmakers elected by the people with a single phone call, and now talks about professional ethics and conscience. This is truly absurd."

Earlier, on the 25th, President Moon stated in a special interview titled 'Five Years of Moon Jae-in' with former JTBC anchor Sohn Suk-hee that Han's statement regarding the 'complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority (Geomsu Wanbak)' bill?saying that if the bill passes, the people will suffer greatly and the attempt to pass it must be stopped?was "very inappropriate" to use expressions like "must be stopped."

In response, Han on the 26th rebutted, "It is a matter of professional ethics and conscience for a ministerial candidate responsible for the field to be cautious and remain silent while a constitutional-level legislation that will collapse the crime response system and cause great harm to the people is about to pass without a single public hearing for the people."

Park also demanded a full investigation into co-authored papers by minor children of university professors nationwide and internships and experiential activities provided by professor parents, in relation to the recent controversy surrounding the so-called 'Dad Chance' issue centered on ministerial candidates.

Targeting Kim In-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, Park said, "Lenient punishments and covering up due to personal connections are rampant even in universities, so isn't it inevitable that even those stepping forward to become Minister of Education get caught up in unfairness controversies?" He urged, "The Ministry of Education should disclose the entire list of those caught this time, and universities should cancel admissions for all 96 cases detected."

He added, "The Ministry of Education must expand the scope of the ongoing investigation into fraudulent practices to all universities and all periods to completely eradicate the root of admission corruption involving professors' children," emphasizing, "It should not be a league for them alone; all young people must be able to compete fairly."