Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and the progressive civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) have been engaged in a heated exchange for several days.
On the morning of the 17th, officials from the Judicial Watch Center of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy held a press briefing at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to announce the publication of the "Yoon Seok-yeol Government Prosecution+ Report 2023 - The Country of Prosecutors, Now 1 Year." [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 17th, PSPD held a press briefing at their office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to release the report titled "Yoon Seok-yeol Government Prosecution+ Report 2023 - The Year of the Prosecutor's Nation." They pointed out that "the government is regressing on prosecutorial reform and expanding the power of the prosecution." The report criticized that "the first year since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration was a year of building a 'prosecutor's nation.'"
Choi Young-seung, an adjunct professor at Hanyang University Law School, said, "President Yoon appointed his former prosecutor acquaintances to key positions in the Ministry of Justice and prosecution as a foothold for political investigations," and evaluated, "The prosecution investigations during the first year of the Yoon administration were 'politically biased investigations measured with a tilted scale.'"
He added, "In the past, political prosecutors abused prosecutorial power by closely aligning with the ruling forces, but now political prosecutors have evolved themselves into 'prosecutorial politics' that influence politics. It has reached the stage of prosecutor governance, where prosecutors directly exercise ruling power."
He continued, "Prosecutorial investigations have led to political investigations that have lost the balance of fairness, and investigations into the president's family have become a sanctuary. Moreover, there has been silence regarding the October 29 Itaewon tragedy," he claimed.
Professor Yoo Seung-ik of Handong University diagnosed, "There is a clear bias in prosecutorial appointments," and said, "Prosecutorial dominance is destroying the entire administrative system and creating unconstitutional administrative practices."
Professor Yoo warned, "We must be cautious about the possibility that prosecutor politics will be accepted as the 'new normal' of the political system," adding, "This is the most dangerous red alert for Korean politics, which democratized after military rule ended in 1987."
Han Sang-hee, co-representative of PSPD and professor at Konkuk University Law School, responded to Minister Han's previous remark describing the Moon Jae-in administration period as the 'PSPD Republic,' saying, "Even if you only took an introductory constitutional law class, you should not say such things," and stated, "The Republic of Korea is a PSPD Republic, an Economic Justice Practice Citizens' Coalition Republic, an Environmental Union Republic, a Republic of Jeonse Fraud Victims, nurses, and nursing assistants. All sovereignty belongs to the people, and we have the right to monitor and criticize the government."
On the morning of the 17th, marking the first anniversary of his appointment, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, responded to a reporter's question about his thoughts as he arrived at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Gwacheon Complex. [Image source=Yonhap News]
He continued, "However, it must not become a prosecutor's republic. How can a single Minister of Justice make such harsh remarks toward citizens and the people?" raising his voice.
Regarding Minister Han's criticism that PSPD did not take a stance on the documentary about the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, which has been criticized as 'secondary victimization,' he said, "How can they talk about the content of a documentary that has not even been screened? If a Minister of Justice says such things in a proper democratic society, it would be grounds for impeachment or dismissal. It is effectively prior censorship and a violation of freedom of expression," he criticized.
On the morning of the day marking his first year in office, Minister Han said to reporters on his way to work, "I am grateful not only to those who support me but also to those who criticize me," but he sharpened his tone toward PSPD.
Regarding Professor Han's remarks, Minister Han rebutted, "It is neither prior censorship, a violation of freedom of expression, nor grounds for impeachment for the Minister of Justice to say 'that should not be done' about a documentary that defends sexual harassment recognized by court rulings and attacks the victim."
Regarding PSPD's report released that day, he said, "Anyone can express their opinions," but reiterated, "My point was that it is problematic when a main player pretends to be a referee and deceives the public."
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