'Another Yoon Seok-yeol in 5 Years?'... Three 'Han Dong-hoon Keywords' That Made the Democrats Nervous

'Joseon's Best Swordsman' Nicknamed Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice Nominee
'Blocking Complete Prosecution Reform'...Direct Speech Style and Fashion Also in Spotlight
Democrats Criticize, "Other Candidates Are Meek, He Is Very Confident"

Minister of Justice nominee Han Dong-hoon is entering the confirmation hearing office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the 15th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The Democratic Party of Korea's scrutiny and criticism toward Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, are intensifying day by day. Han, a close aide to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol and an outspoken opponent of the 'complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority (Geomsu Wanbak),' is being targeted with sharp attacks as a 'key power player' in the new administration.

Han's bold stance, including his remarks to block Geomsu Wanbak, has attracted attention not only from the political sphere but also from the public. His nickname during his time as a prosecutor and his distinctive blunt speaking style have also become topics of discussion online. We have summarized three 'key keywords' related to Han.

◆ Special Prosecutor of the Prosecution, 'Joseon’s Best Sword'

During his time as a prosecutor, Han was nicknamed 'Joseon Jeilgeom (the Best Sword of Joseon).' This nickname reflects his career as a leading special prosecutor who handled major investigations such as the state corruption scandal and the Samsung Group's illegal succession of management rights. Behind the ruling party's focused attacks on Han lies a concern that the sharp edge of a special prosecutor, who mainly investigated power-related corruption and large corporations, will eventually lead to retaliatory investigations against the ruling party.

Above all, Han is regarded as a symbol of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. When Yoon served as Prosecutor General during the Moon Jae-in administration, Han was promoted to head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and rose rapidly. However, after starting investigations into former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family, Han was demoted four times following the appointment of Minister Choo Mi-ae. Having suffered hardships due to his opposition to the current government and suddenly rising to become the nominee for Minister of Justice in the Yoon administration, Han is far from welcome from the ruling party's perspective.

Regarding Han's nomination, Yoon's camp described it as "sheathing the sword and handing over the pen." However, the Democratic Party demands withdrawal, calling it 'personnel terror' and 'a prelude to state corruption.' On the 13th, Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, criticized at a personnel hearing secretariat meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "(President-elect Yoon) said he would create a country of fairness and common sense whenever he opened his mouth, but instead, he took care of 'meritorious subjects' rather than fairness and threw away common sense, exceeding imagination. It is a declaration of full-scale and blatant political retaliation against the people who hope for unity."

◆ The 'Little President' of the Yoon Administration?

The attacks on Han are also related to the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which the Democratic Party is fighting desperately to pass. Within the Democratic Party, there are concerns that if Han is appointed Minister of Justice, he could control the prosecution through personnel and budgetary authority, effectively neutralizing Geomsu Wanbak. This is why he is referred to as the 'Little President' or 'de facto second-in-command.'

The Minister of Justice can unilaterally activate a standing special prosecutor to intervene in investigations, and the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Office (a Korean-style FBI), expected to be created after the passage of the Geomsu Wanbak bill, is likely to be under the Ministry of Justice. Han has also hinted at the possibility of activating special prosecutors, stating, "The standing special prosecutor system is one of the duties assigned to the Minister of Justice." This could create a structure where the independence and neutrality of the prosecution are difficult to guarantee. Furthermore, if the President-elect's pledge to abolish the Office of Civil Affairs is realized, the Ministry of Justice, which inherits authority such as high-ranking official personnel verification, is expected to gain even greater influence.

Another point of dissatisfaction for the Democratic Party is that during the ruling party's reconsideration of the bipartisan Geomsu Wanbak mediation plan, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, consulted Han's opinion. On the 26th, Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party emergency committee chairman, criticized in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' saying, "Han is not even the Minister of Justice yet, only a nominee, but his power is really great. They call him the Little President, and it shows he has enough power to dominate the People Power Party."

However, the People Power Party draws a line against the argument that Han's nomination will lead to political retaliation against ruling party figures. On the 14th, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said in an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "President-elect Yoon believes the Minister of Justice should not exercise investigative command over the prosecution and has pledged to abolish it. Even if Han becomes minister, and even if it is not legislated, he will not be able to exercise investigative command as minister."

Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice nominee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Han Dong-hoon’s Blunt Speaking Style…Democrats Say 'Unbefitting of a Nominee'

Han's remarks to block Geomsu Wanbak caused such a stir that even former President Moon Jae-in rose in opposition. In a conversation with former JTBC anchor Sohn Suk-hee released on the 25th, Moon criticized, "As Minister of Justice and someone who has long been part of the prosecution, he may oppose the separation of investigative authority or say it requires sufficient process, but the expression itself is very dangerous."

Since his nomination on April 13, Han has used strong expressions targeting the Democratic Party, which is pushing the Geomsu Wanbak bill, calling it a 'midnight escape,' and regarding prosecutorial reform, he bluntly stated, "The prosecution just needs to efficiently and competently catch the bad guys."

Along with his blunt speaking style, Han's fashion and attire have also become a topic online. His neat and simple suit, shoes, tie, bag, and glasses with distinctive points attracted attention, and information about the items he wore was shared on online communities.

The Democratic Party criticized Han's speaking style and fashion as 'unbefitting of a nominee.' On the 28th, Representative Cho Eung-cheon said in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' "Usually, when a nominee for a cabinet member is approached with a microphone, they modestly say, 'I will speak at the hearing,' but (regarding the Geomsu Wanbak bill) it was very uncomfortable. There is no reason to get involved in every political issue and swing fully. I hope he behaves like a nominee."

The Democratic Party is preparing for a 'thorough scrutiny' of Han at the personnel hearing scheduled for May 4. Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to fully protect Han as the right candidate for Minister of Justice. On the 14th, at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee Jun-seok said, "Han is no longer the prosecutor who was once called the best sword of Joseon by the people. As a political appointee of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, I ask him to devote much effort to modernizing legal administration and establishing an advanced judicial system," adding, "The party will thoroughly support him through the personnel hearing."

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