"Fasting Self-Harm" and "Petty Criminal" to Han Dong-hoon... Opposition: "Are Taxes Paid for Political Commentary?"

Handonghun "Judicial System Must Not Stop Due to Hunger Strike Self-Harm"
Opposition "Salt on Wounds, Sadists" "Unpleasant"

The Democratic Party of Korea is pouring out criticism, saying that Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon's remarks calling their leader Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike a 'political hunger strike' are inappropriate.

Minister Han said regarding Lee's transfer to the hospital on the 18th due to deteriorating health, "I think a precedent should not be set where the judicial system stops because a suspect under investigation goes on a hunger strike or self-harms. Then, wouldn't all petty criminals do the same in the future?"

He continued, "It seems like, just as one might grab and throw any object at hand, now there are baseless talks about dismissing the prime minister, the entire cabinet's resignation, and impeachment that were not present when the hunger strike began."

He added, "I've never seen a hunger strike start after receiving a summons like this, but in the past, there have been many cases where powerful people committed crimes and tried to avoid punishment by going on hunger strikes, being hospitalized, or using wheelchairs. However, they did not succeed," and pointed out, "I think the public might feel like they have seen this scene somewhere before."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party evaluated that these remarks were inappropriate for a Minister of Justice. On the 19th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom appeared on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' and said, "Every time I hear Minister Han's remarks, I wonder how he can pick only pretty words like that. Since Minister Han speaks harshly, to respond in kind, I would say such expressions are somewhat sadistic."

Lawmaker Kim said, "A sadist is someone who feels pleasure from abusing or causing pain to others, and isn't the Democratic Party the one being hurt and suffering now? These people are pouring salt?actually, rock salt?on those wounds, but if you think about it, those wounds were inflicted by the prosecution and Minister Han Dong-hoon. I wonder if such words are really necessary."

Democratic Party floor spokesperson Kim Han-gyu also said on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that "Although Minister Han did not call the opposition leader a petty criminal, he deliberately used such expressions to clearly make the other party uncomfortable," and added, "Minister Han is no longer a prosecutor but a political appointee, so he is closer to a politician, and it seems there are people advising him for the presidential election."

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye said on MBC Radio that Minister Han is "disgusting," adding, "I want to say stronger words, but I have to maintain the health of my mouth, so I will hold back."

Former Democratic Party Supreme Council member Park Sung-min said on the afternoon of the 18th on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle,' "At first, some people might have liked 'Refreshing Han Dong-hoon,' but now Minister Han's sharp commentary is close to noise pollution," and criticized, "The Minister of Justice is not paid with taxpayers' money to do political commentary."