[Profile] Han Dong-hoon Appointed Minister of Justice... Former Special Prosecutor in 'Cho Kuk Investigation'

Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Han Dong-hoon, the newly appointed Minister of Justice on the 17th (age 49, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), was regarded as a leading 'special investigation prosecutor' within the prosecution during his time as a prosecutor.

He worked alongside President Yoon Seok-yeol when Yoon was the head of the special investigation team for the state affairs manipulation case, leading to the arrest of Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics. During his tenure as the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he led corruption investigations against former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. He also contributed to the indictment and arrest of Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, and Chung Mong-koo, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group.

In particular, after President-elect Yoon became Prosecutor General, Minister Han was promoted to the youngest Chief Prosecutor and served as the head of the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, leading investigations into corruption involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family. Han was demoted to a less influential position during the tenure of former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae due to the investigations into Cho's family and the 'Channel A case.' He subsequently served as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office, Research Fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

During this period, Han faced prosecution over the Channel A case and clashed with figures from the ruling party. The case involved allegations that Han conspired with a Channel A reporter to conduct a 'dusting' investigation on a specific individual. The ruling party referred to this as a 'prosecution-media collusion' case, pressuring Han.

▲ Seoul National University Law School ▲ Research Officer at the Central Investigation Department, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Senior Administrator at the Office of Civil Affairs, Blue House ▲ Director of Policy Planning, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ 2nd Team Leader, Special Investigation Unit for Corruption Crimes, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office ▲ Head of Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division, Supreme Prosecutors' Office ▲ Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Busan High Prosecutors' Office ▲ Research Fellow, Judicial Research and Training Institute ▲ Deputy Director, Judicial Research and Training Institute