"Swearing at Local Residents? Never Happened"
"Prosecutors Likely to Request Arrest Warrant This Week"
Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok, who engaged in a heated debate at the National Assembly, clashed as Ahn criticized Han, saying, "The attitude of a minister who meticulously prepares attack points like that is very unique."
On the 11th, Ahn said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Before answering lawmakers, it seems he researches all the attack points about that lawmaker in advance," adding, "(Han Minister) is still saying that I cursed at local residents, but I have never done that."
During the government questioning session held on the 8th, Ahn asked Minister Han, "Are you going to run in the general election?" which sparked the heated exchange. During the debate, when Ahn said, "I have never seen a minister fight with lawmakers like Minister Han," Han retorted with a remark implying, "You are someone who cursed at a complainant," causing controversy. This referred to past curse messages Ahn had sent to a complainant.
However, Ahn said, "That is not true," adding, "In the process of exchanging messages with a private contractor, a message I sent to a very close military junior I know was mistakenly sent, and I apologized to the private contractor, so the matter was settled."
The curse message incident occurred in 2020, when Ahn sent a text saying, "X-taeng is unresponsive," while communicating with a private investor building Bird Park at Osan City Hall, causing controversy. When the private investor who received the message protested, saying, "I will hold a press conference," Ahn responded, "It was mistakenly sent to a junior. Please understand."
Ahn said, "Why would such an incident be distorted and brought up as if I cursed at a civilian? I cannot dispute this in a government questioning session," adding, "The way those lawmakers question is attacked, and that attitude of a minister who meticulously prepares attack points is very unique."
He referred to Minister Han mentioning Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin's drunk driving incident from several years ago, saying, "He prepares his own counterattack weapons in advance for Park's questions," and added, "That attitude is very petty and mean-spirited; I feel that he is digging his own grave."
He also said that senior party members need to come together to dissuade Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who has been fasting for 12 days. He said, "It is problematic for senior members to remain silent while the party leader has been fasting for over 10 days. Honestly, it is a bit late," and "Personally, I think the fasting should be stopped today."
He predicted that the prosecution would request an arrest warrant within this week. He said, "The prosecution seems intent on arresting Leader Lee before Chuseok and putting this issue on the table during Chuseok," adding, "If you calculate the schedule backward, the plenary sessions are scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday, when the vote must take place. For that, there is another plenary session scheduled for next Monday, where the report will be made. Therefore, the arrest warrant must be requested this week."
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