Gominjeong: "If Han Donghoon Runs in Gwangjin-gu, I Welcome It... Not Afraid"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Go Min-jung, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon’s remark, "If I had won the presidential election, would I have covered up the case?" as a political statement made with next year’s general election candidacy in mind.

On the 1st, Go said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' in response to the host’s question, "What if Minister Han runs for Gwangjin-eul?" "I welcome it," expressing her opinion.

Gominjeong, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea's Countermeasures Committee on the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Diplomatic Disasters and Lies, is attending the committee inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

She added, "I don’t care where it is. If I were going to be afraid of that, I wouldn’t have started politics."

Earlier, Minister Han responded to Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s statement, "The prosecution is pressuring me because I lost the presidential election," by saying, "If I had won the presidential election, would I have covered up the case? If crimes disappear just because you get votes, that is not democracy," which sparked opposition from the opposition party.

Go pointed out that Minister Han’s remarks on individual cases "already disqualify him as a minister" and speculated that "he is trying to move into politics."

She said, "He himself has repeatedly said that 'it is inappropriate to comment on individual cases,' but he is reversing that fact," and criticized Minister Han’s double standards by saying, "Of course, when he was a prosecutor, he knew better than anyone how important forensic investigations are, but he himself reversed that and did not open the password."

She added, "Despite having his own beliefs and political philosophy, his actions are always the exact opposite. At first, he said ministers should remain neutral, but judging by his current behavior, he keeps labeling Leader Lee as someone who has committed crimes."

Go believes that continuing such remarks ultimately indicates "consideration of political entry." She said, "I think he is just following a predetermined course like a 'dapjeongneo' (an abbreviation meaning 'the answer is fixed, and you just have to respond'). If he had no intention of entering politics, there would be no reason or need to make such remarks, nor would he feel like doing so. He is just watching the timing of when to run before the general election."