Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is entering the Ministry of Justice building to attend the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Gwacheon Complex on the 17th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gye-hwa] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the opposition's excessive concerns about Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, stating, "Prosecutors in the Yoon Seok-yeol era do not pledge loyalty to individuals."
In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Joo Jin-woo Live' on the 24th, Ha said in response to a question about the Ministry of Justice establishing a Personnel Information Management Unit for public official personnel screening, which also takes on the role of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, and the opposition's backlash claiming "Han Dong-hoon is becoming a 'small president' and a 'king minister,'" "There should be a screening organization. It must exist, and it is better to have it under the cabinet than the Blue House."
He added, "The Blue House is inevitably a politically driven organization."
He continued, "Once the Ministry of Justice is organized, it is mainly staffed by career civil servants rather than political appointees, so I think it is better. It's about personnel screening, so fabricating false information is impossible."
Regarding concerns that President Yoon, being a former prosecutor, is appointing many prosecutors to key prosecutorial positions, Ha said, "The prosecutors advancing in the Yoon Seok-yeol era are just like Yoon Seok-yeol. Therefore, they do not pledge loyalty to any individual."
He added, "If we make mistakes, they will come after us too. There is absolutely no need to worry that they will only target the Democratic Party. Regardless of party, even if there is any corruption in President Yoon's office or government, it will not be covered up or overlooked." He emphasized, "Rather, later on, even the Democratic Party will acknowledge that they are conducting investigations fairly."
Ha also said, "Although there are some cliques and political prosecutors, the majority of prosecutors are strong and therefore investigate more rigorously and handle cases more strictly. That is the DNA of prosecutors; most of them are like that."
Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning at the confirmation hearing for Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 9th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice posted a public notice in the official gazette on the same day titled 'Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Ministry of Justice and Its Affiliated Agencies Organization Act (Draft)'. It included the establishment of a Personnel Information Management Unit for public official personnel screening and an increase in personnel.
In response, Kim Nam-guk, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's Election Countermeasures Committee, said at a National Assembly briefing, "It has become no surprise to call Han Dong-hoon the 'small president.' Following the blatant vertical integration of the prosecution from the President's Office to the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office through close prosecutor aides, the authority for personnel screening and information gathering has been concentrated in the Minister of Justice. The plan toward a prosecutorial republic is being blatantly advanced."
He continued, "At the pinnacle is Han Dong-hoon, the closest aide. Minister Han is the Minister of Justice, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, Chief Secretary for Personnel, and Prosecutor General. While ministers of administrative departments are equal as state council members, the Minister of Justice, who handles personnel screening, has effectively gained authority exceeding that of the Prime Minister." He added, "President Yoon Seok-yeol must clearly explain why he is concentrating all power in Minister Han through an unreasonable amendment of laws."
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