Handonghun: "Playing as a starter for People's Solidarity but acting like a referee"... "Held key positions during Moon administration"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon continued his offensive for the second day against the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), which ranked him as the number one public official to be replaced after one year of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

On the 11th, Minister Han issued a statement saying, "Throughout the five years of the previous Democratic Party administration, which was even called the 'PSPD government,' the PSPD occupied key positions of power as if drawing numbered tickets in order, participating in power and forming alliances with it, something the public vividly remembers."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

He added, "If you count just once the people from PSPD who became key officials in the Democratic Party government or Democratic Party lawmakers, I think they would find it difficult to pretend to be a neutral civic organization as they do now, even if their conscience pricks them. The public will not be fooled by someone who played as a starting player on one team for five years and suddenly pretends to be a referee."

He continued, "Moreover, seeing that they do not say a word about cases like the documentary on former Mayor Park Won-soon, it seems they have no intention of being a fair referee in the future."

The Ministry of Justice stated that Minister Han’s position was a response to the additional statement released by PSPD, which targeted Minister Han again following the previous day.

In its additional statement on the same day, PSPD criticized Minister Han, saying, "Anyone, including ministers, can criticize civic organizations, but we do not understand why a political prosecutor representing the entrenched interests of the prosecution pretends to protect the safety and rights of the people."

PSPD especially emphasized, "There probably aren’t many people left who consider the Ministry of Justice under Minister Han to be a fair national institution," and added, "Going forward, PSPD will do its best to monitor prosecutorial power and uphold judicial justice."