Handonghun, Who Asked to Remove 'Nim' Honorific, Avoids First Class on Business Trips... Bold Moves Spark Attention

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is entering the Cabinet meeting held at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The bold moves of Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, who has been in office for over a month, are drawing attention. Following his proposal to eliminate unnecessary formalities within the organization, it is now circulating within the Ministry of Justice that he instructed to book business class seats instead of first class for his upcoming trip to the United States.

According to the legal community on the 25th, Minister Han is planning to visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the 28th. He explained that he intends to focus on examining the FBI's personnel system and exchange opinions with officials to reference the operation of the newly established Personnel Information Management Division within the Ministry of Justice.

The departing flight was initially booked in business class due to the unavailability of first-class seats. However, the return flight was scheduled to be booked in first class according to regulations and the precedent set by previous ministers. According to government travel expense regulations and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance’s budget execution guidelines, cabinet members (ministerial level) are entitled to airfare equivalent to first-class seats.

Nevertheless, Minister Han instructed that the return flight also be booked in business class. He also requested that this directive not be disclosed externally. It is reported that he issued this instruction citing the current economic situation and the intent to reduce the budget. The price difference between the initially intended first-class and business class tickets is known to be about 5 million KRW.

Previously, Minister Han also attracted attention for his directive aimed at creating a horizontal organizational culture. At that time, he instructed via official document that the honorific suffix 'nim' should not be used when referring to executives, including himself, in all internal Ministry of Justice documents.

It has also been confirmed that he recently instructed the spokesperson’s office not to post his field visits or related activities on the Ministry of Justice homepage main screen. Accordingly, the main page of the Ministry of Justice website currently features content such as the Ministry’s operational systems and legislative introductions instead of Minister Han’s activities.

He also requested that staff refrain from formalities such as opening and closing car doors for him. The minister’s office explained this internally through the Ministry’s intranet, stating, "The Minister does not want it." When he visited Cheongju Prison in Chungbuk on the 10th, a photo captured Minister Han listening to explanations from on-site staff with his hands clasped.

Meanwhile, Minister Han has recently been gaining prominence as a potential next presidential candidate. According to a survey conducted by polling firm R&Search on behalf of NewsPim from the 11th to the 13th, targeting 1,025 adults nationwide, Minister Han ranked third with 15.1% support as a suitable next political leader. The first place was Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (29.3%), and second place was Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul from the People Power Party (23.9%).