Handonghun Targets Democratic Party Leadership: "Is It Funny That a Political Party Shielded Bribery Crimes?"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is announcing the special New Year's pardon recipients on the 27th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 2nd, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, responded sarcastically to the Democratic Party of Korea leadership's insistence on the necessity of passing the arrest motion for Assemblyman Noh Woong-rae in the National Assembly, saying, "Is it funny that a political party is protecting bribery crimes?"

Minister Han said on his way to work at the Government Complex Gwacheon in the afternoon, "I really like humor, but did the public really laugh when they saw this?" He added, "If it were a story from a distant past or a faraway country, it might be laughable, but since this is about our country in 2023, it is just bizarre."

Earlier, at the Supreme Council meeting on the 30th of last month, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae, and Assemblymen Kim Seong-hwan and Kim Nam-guk mocked Minister Han's remark that "the sound of rustling money envelopes was even recorded."

Leader Lee sarcastically said, "I keep hearing strange sounds; isn't that the sound of Assemblyman Kim Nam-guk receiving a money envelope?" and "It sounds like Assemblyman Kim Seong-hwan handing over a money envelope to Assemblyman Kim." The leadership burst into laughter and added, "We need to be careful about rustling sounds even when eating," and "If you hear the sound of rustling paper when meeting someone, you might think it's the sound of a money envelope."

Regarding Supreme Council member Jeong's comment targeting him, "The stubbornness of a hateful seven-year-old has consolidated votes. Thank you, Han Dong-hoon," Minister Han retorted, "Are there any citizens who would be grateful that a political party is protecting bribery crimes?" and "I want to ask which country's citizens they represent."

On the prospect that the Democratic Party, which rejected Assemblyman Noh's arrest motion, will continue the session in January to maintain his immunity from arrest, he said, "Surely a political party would not go that far to maintain immunity for bribery crimes. Let's watch together."

Regarding the Democratic Party's push for a special prosecution on First Lady Kim Geon-hee and raising issues about balanced investigations between ruling and opposition parties, he said, "It is a completely unrelated case," and "A thorough investigation has been ongoing for a long time regarding that matter (Mrs. Kim). It will be handled according to law and principles."

Concerning the U.S. 'Jessica's Law' (restrictions on the residence of child sex offenders), which he mentioned in his New Year's address as a policy to be introduced, he said, "There is great public anxiety about people who pose a high risk of committing sex crimes roaming around, and I fully understand this," adding, "I will gradually discuss specific directions suitable for our country's circumstances."