Handonghun Confirmation Hearing Ends After 17 Hours and 30 Minutes... Concludes Without a 'Decisive Blow' (Comprehensive)

Democratic Party Members Show Lack of Hearing Preparation... Display Mistakes
Four Witnesses Make Candid Statements... Accountant Kim Kyung-yul Delivers 'Determined Remarks'
Unable to Adopt Progress Report, Recessed... Future Schedule to Be Discussed

Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, 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 Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The confirmation hearing for Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, extended past midnight but concluded without a 'decisive blow.' The hearing, which began at 10 a.m. on the 9th, ended at 3:31 a.m. on the 10th after 17 hours and 30 minutes.

Han's confirmation hearing went through multiple rounds, including main questioning, supplementary questioning, re-supplementary questioning, and even second re-supplementary questioning, but ultimately adjourned without reaching an agreement on whether to adopt the confirmation hearing report. Future schedules will be decided through consultations between the ruling and opposition party secretaries.

During the hearing, Democratic Party members of the confirmation committee launched a focused offensive with supplementary questioning regarding Han's ▲children's papers and award credentials for building qualifications ▲apartment gifts and tax evasion suspicions related to real estate ▲hundreds of phone calls with First Lady Kim Geon-hee ▲investigation process of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk ▲Channel A case, among others. However, it is expected to be evaluated as a hearing without a 'decisive blow' because no particularly new suspicions were raised nor evidence supporting existing suspicions was presented.

Morning hearing stalled over 'document submission' dispute and apology issue for 'Eoljuka' remarks

The confirmation hearing by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee for Han, which started at 10 a.m. on the 9th, was stalled from the moment Han's opening remarks ended due to a dispute between the ruling and opposition parties over 'document submission.'

More than 10 members from both parties requested procedural speeches, and the hearing was adjourned at 11:38 a.m. without starting the Q&A for the candidate, nearly 100 minutes after the start.

Democratic Party members claimed that Han did not submit any requested documents and pressured him by saying the hearing could not proceed under such conditions, while People Power Party members countered that under the Confirmation Hearing Act, document submission requests are made to state agencies or local governments, not the candidate.

People Power Party members also protested to Committee Chair Park Kwang-on for not restraining Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook from asking substantive questions during procedural speeches.

Democratic Party members Kim Jong-min and Song Ki-heon demanded an apology for Han's use of the term 'Eoljuka' during his opening remarks and opposition members' speeches, considering it problematic.

When the morning hearing resumed, People Power Party members questioned the eligibility of Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook as a hearing member. They argued that since Choi is currently on trial due to Facebook posts and statements related to the 'Channel A case,' in which Han was a subject of investigation, fair questioning of Han could not be expected. They requested Chair Park to have Choi either voluntarily recuse himself or for the committee to vote on his disqualification.

Han expresses views on issues and procedural problems of the 'Eoljuka' bill... Choi Kang-wook and Kim Nam-guk's 'mistake' incident

The afternoon hearing resumed at 2 p.m. on the 9th with substantive questioning and supplementary questioning.

During the Q&A, Han responded to a question about 'politicization of the prosecution' by saying, "I think the prosecution has become politicized to an unprecedented degree over the past three years," and regarding the 'Eoljuka' bill, he stated, "It is a law that makes it difficult to punish corrupt politicians and public officials and has many problems both in content and procedure," continuing with candid remarks.

However, when asked by Democratic Party members about plans to file constitutional complaints against the amended Prosecutors' Office Act and Criminal Procedure Act, Han said, "I do not have specific plans yet," and refrained from elaborating.

Democratic Party members continued questioning Han about his children's papers and real estate issues, but Han explained each point based on previously submitted written responses.

On the other hand, perhaps due to time lost handling the 'Eoljuka' bill, despite the hearing being postponed once from the originally scheduled April 4th and held five days later, Democratic Party members appeared inadequately prepared for the hearing.

Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook, while explaining a presentation (PPT) slide showing that Han's daughter donated a laptop to a welfare facility, mistakenly referred to the donor 'Han**' as Han's daughter. Han corrected him, saying, "The 'Han**' you mentioned seems to be 'Korea 3M.' My daughter's name cannot be a for-profit corporation. The receipt is from Korea 3M, so please check."

Similarly, Democratic Party member Kim Nam-guk, while raising suspicions about Han's daughter's paper, said, "She co-authored the paper as first author with her maternal aunt," implying Han's daughter wrote the paper with her aunt. Han said he had never heard of this and asked for confirmation. It was later confirmed that the 'aunt' Kim mentioned was mistaken for Professor Lee, the maternal aunt of the nephew who was the corresponding author of the paper written by Han's daughter's in-laws' side. Kim admitted his mistake.

Min Hyung-bae, who recently left the Democratic Party and became an independent member, showed strong agitation during a three-minute procedural speech in response to People Power Party member Jo Su-jin's remark calling his departure a 'fake resignation.'

Min said, "What fake resignation did I do? What did I fake? Did I resign without resigning? I am not currently a member of the Democratic Party. I resigned. Yet you call it a fake resignation? Do you think this is a media desk?" addressing Jo, who is a former journalist, in an agitated tone.

He continued, "Media desks are used carelessly. Chairperson, if such expressions are allowed, it should not be permitted. It does not correspond to the truth," raising his voice, "Who promised reinstatement? Did you confirm it?"

Witness examinations of Han Dong-soo, Im Eun-jung, Park Young-jin, and Kim Kyung-yul... Kim's 'determined remarks' anger Democratic Party members

After 10 p.m., examinations of four witnesses took place.

The witnesses were Han Dong-soo, head of the Inspection Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and a current prosecutor; Im Eun-jung, Inspection Officer at the Ministry of Justice; Park Young-jin, chief prosecutor at Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office; and accountant Kim Kyung-yul.

As expected, Han and Im, nominated by the Democratic Party, and Park and Kim, nominated by the People Power Party, consistently gave answers aligned with the respective parties' positions.

Han testified that during the inspection of the 'Channel A case,' then Prosecutor General and now President Yoon Seok-youl obstructed the inspection by pushing forward with a professional investigation advisory group instead of the investigation review committee.

Regarding Han's statement that "when one becomes a chief prosecutor, if the prosecutor general is unreachable, one can directly contact the prosecutor general's wife," Han Dong-soo answered a Democratic Party member's question by saying, "That is extremely unusual," and "There must be a personal acquaintance for such a call to happen."

When asked if conversations with First Lady Kim Geon-hee about investigations would constitute official secret leakage, Han replied, "It would be official secret leakage or grounds for disciplinary action. In fact, there have been disciplinary actions when contents of suspect interrogation records were disclosed to lovers or acquaintances."

Im Eun-jung showed agreement with Democratic Party members' questions pointing out problems with President Yoon or internal prosecution issues based on her experiences. She also revealed that she personally requested an inspection due to Han's improper personnel requests.

When asked if she had any intention to quit midway, she answered, "Not at all."

Park Young-jin stated that despite the investigation review committee's recommendation for non-prosecution in the 'Channel A case,' then Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Sung-yoon insisted on prosecution unreasonably. When asked why by a People Power Party member, he said, "I think it was because they started the investigation with a preconceived purpose or bias and did not get the desired conclusion."

He also confirmed that there was comprehensive pressure from pro-government prosecutors at the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the time, naming prosecutors who contacted him.

Accountant Kim Kyung-yul called the Daejang-dong case "a clear fraud case" and said, "The outline of the case has been revealed through media reports and efforts by civic groups."

He added, "If there is no power interference like under the current Moon Jae-in administration, I believe the full truth of the case can be uncovered," emphasizing, "I think Governor Lee Jae-myung cannot completely avoid responsibility."

At the end of the witness examination, Kim Kyung-yul made 'determined remarks' that led to loud exchanges in the hearing room.

In response to People Power Party member Jo Su-jin's question about his evaluation of the Moon Jae-in administration's Ministry of Justice ministers, Kim said, "Looking at recent allegations of sexual harassment by a certain lawmaker, you can see the typical attitude of the Democratic Party," and "First, the Democratic Party tries to conceal incidents so they do not leak externally; second, if concealment fails, they fabricate. Then they neutralize the agencies investigating and probing these."

He also criticized Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook's recent sexual harassment controversy, saying, "Whether it's 'ssanggiyeok' or 'ssangdigeut,' you can see it in various incidents."

Kim further stated, "Regarding Daejang-dong, at first, it was called the greatest achievement since Dangun, but as concealment was exposed by various media and civil society, they started fabricating. They even absurdly claimed that Yoon Seok-youl was the main culprit."

He added, "There was no special inspector throughout President Moon's term. How did they handle power crimes and economic crimes? They neutralized investigative organizations," mentioning cases like Optimus and Lime.

Democratic Party members strongly protested Kim's remarks, accusing him of political agitation while appearing as a witness.

Democratic Party member Kim Nam-guk said, "We call witnesses in confirmation hearings to hear from those with experience and expertise. What is being said now is neither experienced nor within the realm of expert judgment. It is political agitation unrelated to the confirmation hearing."

However, Kim Kyung-yul immediately retorted, "No, I can guarantee it."

As voices escalated between Kim and Democratic Party members, Chair Park intervened, saying, "Witness, please wait. You are not here to say whatever you want," and told Kim to "unfold your arms."

Main questioning → supplementary questioning → witness examination → re-supplementary questioning → second re-supplementary questioning... adjourned at 3:30 a.m. with ruling and opposition roles reversed

The confirmation hearing for Han by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which started at 10 a.m. on the 9th, was repeatedly adjourned and resumed, then recessed around 11:59 p.m. on the 9th. With the consent of both ruling and opposition members and Han, the hearing resumed after changing the session around 12:20 a.m. on the 10th.

As President Yoon Seok-youl's term began past midnight, the ruling and opposition party statuses were reversed during the hearing.

Democratic Party member Song Ki-heon and People Power Party member Yoo Sang-beom also pointed out issues regarding the witness application of active judges and prosecutors during the earlier witness examination.

After re-supplementary questioning ended around 2 a.m. on the 10th, the hearing was adjourned again, then resumed around 2:35 a.m., continuing with second re-supplementary questioning by six members. Han was able to make closing remarks well past 3 a.m.

Before the second re-supplementary questioning, People Power Party member Yoo Sang-beom mentioned that during consultations with the Democratic Party secretary, there was talk of holding the hearing again the next day and requested that if the confirmation hearing report would not be adopted, the hearing be concluded as is.

However, Democratic Party secretary Park Joo-min said, "For now, we will proceed with additional questioning, and regarding the adoption of the confirmation report, we decided to make a decision after reviewing any documents that are submitted," adding, "Democratic Party members judged that document submission during the hearing was insufficient, so we must follow that judgment."

With differing positions between the parties, Chair Park said, "Let's have one more round of Q&A and then conclude. Any objections?" seeking agreement.

He then asked the Democratic Party side by what time they would set a deadline for additional document submission, to which Park Joo-min replied, "By tomorrow morning."

Chair Park requested, "Please consult again between secretaries regarding the overall meeting dates and such."

Han Dong-hoon's closing remarks: "I will dedicate myself to establishing the rule of law based on justice and common sense"

At around 3:27 a.m. on the 10th, after the second re-supplementary questioning ended, Han made his closing remarks, saying, "This was a precious opportunity to reflect on my past public service and prepare my attitude going forward," and "I will deeply cherish each piece of affectionate advice and warm encouragement given by the committee members."

He added, "I did my best to answer the members' questions faithfully, but I believe there were many shortcomings from your perspective. I would appreciate your understanding with a broad mind."

Han said, "If given the opportunity to serve as Minister of Justice, I will keep in mind the detailed advice from the members and dedicate myself to establishing the rule of law based on justice and common sense," concluding by expressing respect for each member's efforts and asking for continued guidance and support.

After Han's closing remarks, Chair Park said, "Thank you for your hard work answering questions for such a long time," and "If appointed Minister of Justice, I ask that you faithfully fulfill the responsibilities expected and desired by the people."

Chair Park stated, "This concludes the confirmation hearing for the Minister of Justice candidate. As you know, under the Confirmation Hearing Act, the National Assembly must complete the confirmation hearing process and submit the confirmation hearing report to the president within 20 days of receiving the request. If it cannot be submitted within this period, the president may request submission within 10 days."

He continued, "The request for confirmation hearing for the Minister of Justice candidate was submitted to the National Assembly on April 19, so May 8 is the 20th day, but we have not yet agreed on the schedule for adopting the report," and "Therefore, secretaries will consult and inform us about the schedule for adopting the confirmation hearing report."

Concluding the hearing, Chair Park said, "Regarding the secretaries' consultations, if an agreement on adopting the report is reached even today, we will be prepared to hold a meeting, so for now, we will adjourn."

Some People Power Party members raised objections, but Chair Park said, "Please leave it to the chair."

Ultimately, without reaching a conclusion on whether to adopt the confirmation hearing report, Han's confirmation hearing ended after 17 hours and 30 minutes, and issues such as holding an additional full committee meeting will be decided through consultations between the ruling and opposition secretaries.

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