Ministry of Justice Launches Investigation into Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon's Alleged Collusion Between Media and Prosecution; Transfers Him to Judicial Research and Training Institute

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice has effectively excluded Han Dong-hoon, a close aide to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol who is under investigation for the so-called 'media-prosecution collusion' allegations, from his duties and has initiated an internal inspection.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Justice announced that it plans to appoint Han Dong-hoon, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office (age 47, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), as a research fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute effective the 26th, and commence an internal inspection.

The Ministry of Justice explained that it will directly conduct the inspection of Prosecutor Han in accordance with the inspection regulations.

While the primary authority for inspecting prosecutors lies with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department, the Ministry of Justice's inspection regulations stipulate that in cases attracting significant public attention where the Minister of Justice orders an inspection because it is deemed difficult to ensure fairness through the prosecution's own inspection, the Ministry of Justice may conduct the inspection directly.

Regarding the transfer, the Ministry of Justice stated that it considered the difficulty of performing frontline investigative supervisory duties.

Since Prosecutor Han recently changed to the status of a suspect, the Ministry of Justice reportedly decided to proceed with the inspection, judging that he could be subject to disciplinary action regardless of whether prosecution is initiated.

Prosecutor Han is suspected of conspiring to threaten Lee Cheol, former CEO of Value Invest Korea (VIK) (age 55, currently incarcerated), by Channel A reporter Lee (age 35), who was investigating the ShillaJen allegations in February and March, demanding that he report corruption involving Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-woong) registered Prosecutor Han as a suspect for attempted coercion earlier this month, seized and analyzed his mobile phone, and is considering summoning him for questioning.

Regarding reporter Lee, a request for an arrest warrant was submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. However, the prosecution leadership largely holds the opinion that the criminal charges do not hold, so no conclusion has been reached.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol delegated the investigative supervision of Prosecutor Han, considered his close aide, to Deputy Chief Prosecutor Koo Bon-seon, who presides over a chiefs' meeting involving five prosecutors.

Additionally, Prosecutor General Yoon accepted a petition from reporter Lee's side requesting that external legal experts on the investigation team decide on matters such as whether to prosecute, and on the 19th, decided to convene a professional investigative advisory panel.

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