Handonghun: "If Investigations of Serious Crimes Are Called Retaliation, the Public Will Not Agree" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 16th, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, responded to the opposition's backlash calling the prosecution investigation "political retaliation" by saying, "If serious crime investigations are called retaliation, the public would not agree at all from a common-sense perspective."

Before attending the Correctional Awards Ceremony held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, he met with reporters and said, "I will not direct specific investigations, but this is a very common-sense general principle," adding, "I said this."

Minister Han stated, "The prosecution and police receive salaries from taxpayers to properly investigate corruption crimes," and emphasized, "No one is above the law." Regarding the dismissal of the arrest warrant for former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-kyu, he replied, "I am not involved in specific cases," and only said, "We must properly investigate corruption crimes to protect the public."

Regarding the opposition's legislative moves to strengthen control over government enforcement ordinances and rules, he said, "The previous administration also actively promoted important policies through enforcement ordinances," and added, "I believe the National Assembly and the executive branch should each do their part according to the principle of separation of powers."

In response to criticism that the delay in forming the Prosecutor General Candidate Recommendation Committee is prolonging the vacancy of the Prosecutor General, he said, "It will proceed according to legal procedures," and added, "If I speak in advance, it only causes misunderstandings. We will prepare well," withholding further comments.

Regarding criticism that increasing the number of prosecutors assigned as research committee members at the Legal Research and Training Institute, often called "exile posts," is a prelude to personnel retaliation, he explained, "Recently, the number of high-ranking prosecutors who remain in that status due to inspections or investigations has increased, and it was inevitable to not keep such individuals, who are involved in direct investigations and trials with the public, in those positions for a long time."

He also said, "Because prosecution issues appear heated from the outside, important issues have been pushed back, and the Ministry of Justice has not been able to fulfill its role, so we intend to stop using the term 'Justice-Prosecution' going forward," adding, "We will speedily advance past issues such as immigration systems and juvenile offenders."

When asked about his reflections on reaching one month since his inauguration on the 17th, he said, "Now is not the time to talk but the time to work hard," and added, "I and the Ministry of Justice want to do our work diligently and well. Please watch over us."

Meanwhile, earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea opposed the prosecution's decision to summon Representative Park Sang-hyuk for investigation related to the 'Ministry of Industry blacklist' allegations and reports mentioning Representative Lee Jae-myung in connection with the 'Daejang-dong development suspicion,' labeling these as political retaliation by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

At the awards ceremony that day, Minister Han emphasized improving the harsh correctional facility environment and the treatment of correctional officers. He said, "Only in an environment where correctional officers work with pride can we take a step closer to the goal of guaranteeing inmates' human rights and correctional rehabilitation," and added, "We must improve the human and material hardships for those who silently dedicate themselves in difficult conditions."

He further stated, "Inclusion requires at least a minimum level of discipline," and warned, "We must not overlook correctional order disturbances such as violence against other inmates or on-site correctional officers by adopting an attitude of 'let's just keep the peace.'"

The Correctional Award that day was given to Seo Seon-gyo, Deputy Warden of Daejeon Prison, who resolved inmates' unpaid wage issues and personally took care of the funeral of an inmate who died while battling cancer.