Careful Legal Administration Management... Improvement of Correctional Officers' Treatment
Restoration of Drug, Gang, and Financial Investigations
"Image Making for Politics" Faces Criticism
Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, marked his first anniversary in office on the 17th. Over the past year, he has received so much spotlight that people say, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration only sees Han Dong-hoon and Won Hee-ryong."
Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is delivering the opening address at the Southeast Asia Cooperation Network General Assembly held at a hotel in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 26th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
With his dandy attire, a briefcase reminiscent of fashion accessories, and coffee in his left hand, he became a hot topic and even inspired the creation of an online fan cafe, rising as a top star among supporters of the current administration. On the other hand, critics strongly argue that "an administrative official is acting like a politician or celebrity." The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy named Minister Han as the "number one public official to be replaced in the current administration" earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the legal community generally gives a positive evaluation of Minister Han’s core work in legal administration.
Unlike previous justice ministers whose main focus was on restraining prosecution investigations, Minister Han has paid much attention to the ‘housekeeping’ of legal administration. In particular, the correctional sector has changed. Minister Han promised to improve the treatment of correctional officers as his inaugural statement. This year’s correctional budget secured 18.6 billion won, a 37% increase from last year. The Ministry of Justice increased specific work expenses, meal costs, clothing expenses, and health checkup fees paid to correctional staff with this budget. Old correctional facilities will also be gradually renovated.
Since taking office, Minister Han has strictly responded to stalking and sex crimes. He is considering introducing the 'Korean-style Jessica Law,' which restricts sex offenders from residing within 500 meters of schools or childcare facilities. Minister Han also expressed his intention to promote the establishment of an immigration office. He believes a dedicated immigration policy department is necessary to address issues such as illegal immigrants and to attract outstanding overseas science and technology talents. While this has received positive evaluations, some question why the Minister of Justice is taking the lead on population and industrial policies that should be pursued across the government.
Minister Han has worked to weaken the power of the previous administration’s ‘Complete Removal of Prosecution Investigation Rights’ (Geomsu Wanbak) law and pushed for the ‘Restoration of Prosecution Investigation Rights’ (Geomsu Wonbok). He chose a detour by revising the Enforcement Decree of the Prosecutors' Office Act to newly define the scope of corruption and economic crimes subject to direct prosecution by the prosecution. The opposition parties are scrutinizing this, claiming "there are legal flaws," while Minister Han insists, "There is absolutely no problem."
Minister Han argues the legitimacy of restoring prosecution investigation rights through the necessity of eradicating drug crimes, organized crime, and financial crimes. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office plans to soon reestablish a dedicated department for drug and organized crime, and the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office will officially restore the Joint Investigation Unit for Financial and Securities Crimes. Recently, with a series of cases involving drugs, stock manipulation, and virtual currencies, many view Minister Han’s decision positively.
On the other hand, the downfall of Jeong Soon-shin, last month’s candidate for head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, due to ‘poor personnel verification by the Ministry of Justice,’ remains a ‘sore spot’ for Minister Han. At the time, he bowed his head and apologized to the public, saying, "If I had known, I would not have let it pass," and "I am sorry to the people."
Over the past year, the place where Minister Han attracted the most public attention was not the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon Government Complex 1 in Gyeonggi Province, but the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Every time he appeared at the National Assembly for hearings, audits, or the submission of arrest warrants for lawmakers, he clashed verbally with Democratic Party members. A notable example was his sharp exchange with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom over false reports about a ‘Cheongdam-dong drinking party.’
Minister Han did not hesitate to engage in fierce verbal battles with progressive civic groups that criticized him. Recently, he retorted to the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, which criticized him, calling it a "political organization representing a specific camp." Opinions on this behavior are mixed, with some defending it as "refreshingly straightforward," others seeing it as "inappropriate for a government official," and some viewing it as "a political act to make himself an issue."
As Minister Han completes his one-year term, speculation about his ‘next position’ is emerging, including rumors of him running in the next general election or a surprising promotion to Prime Minister. Regardless of how one views his unconventional behavior compared to typical ministers, no one believes he will step down from the Ministry of Justice and live as a private practicing lawyer.
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