Handonghun on "Complete Prosecution Reform Causes Public Harm"... Democratic Party Says "No Hearing Without Apology"

Ruling "Inciting Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition" vs Opposition "Should Have Reached Agreement Instead of Rushing"
Only Disputes Erupt as 'Hearing Stalls'... Unclear if Substance Will Resume After Afternoon Session

Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 9th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The confirmation hearing for Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, stalled over partisan disputes surrounding Han’s ‘document submission’ issue and his remarks on ‘complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority (Geomsu Wanbak)’ and ‘midnight escape,’ as well as the matter of his apology. As the ruling and opposition parties engaged in heated exchanges, the hearing concluded its morning session without addressing the core issues.

At the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 9th, the Democratic Party of Korea sharply criticized Han for referring to the amended Prosecutors’ Office Act and Criminal Procedure Act as Geomsu Wanbak in his opening remarks, calling it a disrespectful expression toward the National Assembly.

On the other hand, the People Power Party argued that since the Geomsu Wanbak law unjustly restricts the scope of prosecutors’ investigations and infringes on the right to file complaints, which contains many unconstitutional elements, the Minister of Justice nominee has the right to express his opinion on the matter.

In his opening remarks, Han expressed concern, saying, "The so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak’ bill has passed the National Assembly and is about to be implemented, causing great public concern. This bill makes it difficult to punish corrupt politicians and public officials, and the damage that the public will witness in the process is very clear."

Democratic Party member Song Ki-heon said, "This is a highly sensitive issue between the ruling and opposition parties, and while expressing one’s conviction can be accepted, starting with such remarks in the opening statement is an attempt to incite partisan conflict, so he should apologize," raising his voice.

Fellow party member Min Hyung-bae also said, "For the nominee to come out and start by discussing a recent sharp conflict between the ruling and opposition parties shows a lack of proper attitude for the hearing," and warned, "We will wait until he apologizes."

Kim Young-bae, another member of the same party, pointed out, "The bill that strips prosecutorial investigative authority has not yet been passed. By making incorrect statements in the opening remarks and implying that the current National Assembly is making irrelevant claims, he seems to be provoking political strife and trying to evade responsibility."

In response, members of the People Power Party argued that from the perspective of the public and the new government, there is nothing wrong with referring to the bill as Geomsu Wanbak. Yoon Han-hong of the People Power Party said, "President Moon Jae-in, candidate Lee Jae-myung, and the Democratic Party have no choice but to claim it is not Geomsu Wanbak. Since there will be many investigations in the future, they have no choice but to insist it is not Geomsu Wanbak. If not, they should have reached an agreement instead of rushing it through," countering the criticism.

Park Hyung-soo, also from the same party, said, "The entire nation commonly refers to this bill as the Geomsu Wanbak bill. Whether it was the original bill proposed by the Democratic Party or the amended version, it is absurd to demand an apology just because the Minister of Justice nominee used that term," sharply criticizing.

He added, "If there is a problem with the remarks, it should be clarified during the hearing process. Saying that an apology is necessary to proceed with the hearing is what provokes political strife. Where in the world is there a resolution to demand an apology? This violates the Constitution and infringes on freedom of conscience," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party launched an offensive accusing Han of submitting insufficient documents related to allegations of his mother’s real estate irregularities, illicit gift transfers, and his children’s credential-building. Conversely, the People Power Party countered that former and incumbent Ministers of Justice under the Moon Jae-in administration also refused to submit documents.

Ultimately, as the ruling and opposition parties engaged in disputes, the hearing concluded its morning session without addressing the substantive issues. The confirmation hearing for Han is scheduled to resume at 2 p.m. that day.

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