[2023 National Audit] Han Dong-hoon "Lee's Allegation Confirmation Statement? Would the Prosecution Be That Uncertain?"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon rebutted on the 11th during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice, responding to criticism that he spoke definitively about the charges against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, by saying, "The prosecution intends to arrest the opposition party leader; do you think they would proceed without that level of confidence?"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is responding at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit held at the National Assembly on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Minister Han responded to Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye's remark that he spoke as if Lee's guilt had been confirmed when explaining the arrest warrant motion at the National Assembly on the 21st of last month, saying, "I was speaking on behalf of the prosecution's position."

Regarding criticism that Minister Han's detailed explanation exceeded the intent of the National Assembly Act, he countered, "Why would you decide whether to arrest a member of the National Assembly without hearing an explanation?"

He continued, "Shouldn't you carefully listen to the specific evidence, the details of the charges, and the prosecution's stance?" and criticized, "Rather, the Democratic Party should apologize for obstructing that process until the end."

He also emphasized that the dismissal of Lee's arrest warrant does not necessarily mean innocence. Minister Han said, "An arrest warrant is an area with a lot of discretion, where one person reviews tens of thousands of pages in a very short time," adding, "As Judge Yoo Chang-hoon mentioned, although perjury was acknowledged in principle, the judge still has unlimited discretion to dismiss the warrant."

He then mentioned opposition figures such as former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung, former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, and former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung, stating, "All their warrants were dismissed, but they actually received heavy sentences and were imprisoned."

Minister Han said, "Based on my judgment and the materials provided by the prosecution when explaining the arrest warrant motion, there was sufficient basis to say so," and added, "Since it is still in the investigation stage, it is not confirmed, but the prosecution will soon indict or make a judgment, which will be revealed in court."