Suspicion of Ghostwriting in Handonghun's Daughter's Thesis, Police Summon Complainant for Full Investigation

An Jin-geol, Director of the Minsheng Economic Research Institute, et al.

At around 10 a.m. on the 30th, civic groups who filed a complaint regarding the 'allegation of thesis ghostwriting involving Han Dong-hoon's daughter' held a press conference in front of the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency before the complainant investigation.
Photo by Oh Gyu-min moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have launched a full-scale investigation into allegations of ghostwriting a thesis for the children of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned the accusers related to Minister Han's children on the morning of the 30th for questioning. Present at the investigation were Ahn Jin-geol, Director of the Minsheng Economy Research Institute, and Lee Je-il, Public Law Committee Chairman of the Minsheng Economy Research Institute.

Before the investigation, progressive civic groups such as the Minsheng Economy Research Institute and the Candlelight Victory Transition Action held a press conference stating, "Minister Han's side claims that the eldest daughter's credentials, which have been questioned, were neither submitted to the school nor used in admissions," but added, "Since the eldest daughter received awards from Seoul and Incheon for 20,000 hours of volunteer work, this could constitute obstruction of official duties by deception and obstruction of business, so a thorough investigation must be conducted."

They also responded to Minister Han's claim that the allegations against his eldest daughter constitute human rights violations by saying, "Wasn't it a case of using underprivileged children as 'tools' to build credentials and receive awards?" and "In fact, those who suffered human rights violations are these children."

Director Ahn Jin-geol stated, "I do not wish for Minister Han's daughter to be punished," but added, "The Han couple are the ones who made their daughter live illegally, not honestly and through hard work with her own abilities, trampling on the fairness of others."

Minister Han's eldest daughter has been suspected of donating to welfare centers with high-value items sponsored by companies to build credentials for university admission. Additionally, in February, the name of a ghostwriter from Kenya appeared in the document information of a thesis registered on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), raising suspicions of thesis ghostwriting.

Progressive civic groups filed a complaint with the police on the 8th against Minister Han, his spouse, and his eldest daughter for obstruction of business and copyright infringement. They also filed additional complaints against the Han family, claiming that the 'laptop donation for credentials' suspicion involves bribery and evidence tampering under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

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