Investigation Team of Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook Responds to Reports Related to Late President Han Man-ho's 'Memorandum'

On August 23, 2017, former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who was released after serving her sentence, is holding a press conference in front of Uijeongbu Prison. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Based on the memorandum of the late Han Man-ho, former president of Hanshin Construction, the ruling party has called for a reinvestigation into the illegal political funds scandal involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook. Meanwhile, the prosecution team that investigated the former prime minister’s case has recently come forward to actively refute various allegations raised in the media.

Han’s memorandum contains details that he initially testified to giving bribes to the former prime minister during the prosecution’s investigation but later retracted in court due to fear of additional charges and promises from the prosecution to help him restart his business.

On the 20th, the investigation team that handled the former prime minister’s case issued a statement regarding the recent series of reports related to the investigation.

The team stated, “The so-called memorandum document by the late Han Man-ho, mentioned by MBC and Newstapa, was submitted as evidence during the former prime minister’s trial and underwent strict judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court, after reviewing this document along with other evidence, confirmed a guilty verdict with a two-year prison sentence for the former prime minister. Both the trial court and defense counsel thoroughly examined the contents of this note, so there is nothing new here, nor any related suspicion.”

They continued, “While detained in the detention center, Han titled ordinary notebooks as ‘Confession Record, Lawyer Meeting Notes, Reference Notes, Memo Notes,’ in which he recorded plans to retract his prosecution statements and give false testimony in court. Han wrote numerous falsehoods in these notes intending to misuse them in court.”

The team also emphasized, “At that time, the judiciary found all claims in these notes?such as ‘prosecutor’s coercion and threats,’ ‘alleged 600 million KRW given to pro-Park politicians,’ and ‘fabrication of testimony through memorized false statements’?to be baseless. The court recognized the evidentiary value of the statements prepared by the prosecutor and ruled guilty against the former prime minister.”

They added, “The investigation team indicted Han Man-ho for perjury based on these false claims. The court found him guilty in both the first and second trials, sentencing him to three and two years in prison respectively, and these rulings were upheld by the Supreme Court.”

The team expressed strong regret toward the media, stating, “We strongly regret that media outlets present the so-called memorandum, which has undergone strict judicial review regarding its authenticity, as if it were new evidence never revealed during the trial, thereby raising unfounded suspicions.”

Regarding reports suggesting that “the prosecutor humiliated Han Man-ho and forced him to memorize false testimony,” the team argued that these reports are completely untrue, citing visitation records showing that the investigating prosecutor and officers treated Han well during a 2010 meeting with his parents at the detention center, as well as Han’s court testimony.

Concerning reports that “600 million KRW was given to other pro-Park politicians,” the team acknowledged that Han wrote such claims in his notes but argued that this was fabricated to falsely create a usage trail for the funds given to the former prime minister.

As evidence, the team pointed out that Han testified during the investigation that he gave the entire 900 million KRW to the former prime minister and never stated that 600 million KRW was given to other politicians. Although the note containing such claims was submitted as evidence in court, the court confirmed that the entire 900 million KRW was delivered to the former prime minister, and Han was found guilty of perjury.

Regarding reports that Han was summoned about 70 times for questioning, the team explained, “There were reasonable grounds for summoning Han multiple times. The document titled ‘Debt Recovery List,’ which recorded the provision of funds to the former prime minister, also included records of funds given to others. We verified the facts and investigated those who illegally received funds.”

The team revealed that a bank employee listed as having received funds in the Debt Recovery List was actually prosecuted under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes for bribery and sentenced to one year in prison.

They added, “Even after indicting the former prime minister, Han was summoned because he had exercised his right to remain silent during prosecution. After the former prime minister’s indictment, Han made new claims and submitted related materials to the court, which required verification.”

Finally, regarding reports that “the prosecutor intimidated Han’s parents to make statements against the former prime minister,” the team clarified, “The investigation team did not interrogate Han’s parents to force false testimony but to verify their involvement in Han’s perjury (retraction of statements) based on objective evidence such as the ‘detention center visitation records.’”

They explained that the parents’ testimony was formally admitted as evidence in Han’s perjury trial and cited as grounds for the guilty verdict.

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the party’s highest council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, “The truth of the former prime minister’s case is being revealed after 10 years,” adding, “Many citizens are shocked after seeing the contents of the ‘Han Man-ho prison memorandum.’”

He continued, “All these circumstances point to the former prime minister being a victim of the prosecution’s coercive investigation and judicial manipulation. We demand the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution to take responsibility and begin uncovering the truth themselves.” He urged the prosecution to reinvestigate.

Also, at a hearing of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae responded to questions about the former prime minister, saying, “The extensive memorandum left by the witness shows that investigative agencies summoned the detained witness dozens of times to threaten and coax him. Since there is no guarantee such incidents will not recur, my belief is that we must constantly reflect on ourselves as if looking into a mirror.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.