Handonghun "Personnel Information Management Team is not power... I will take all the blame myself"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is attending the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 28th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, described the Personnel Information Management Team, a personnel verification organization under the Ministry of Justice, as "more of a burden and responsibility from my perspective," adding, "It is difficult to understand in what way it constitutes authority or power."

Minister Han made these remarks on the afternoon of the 28th during the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly.

On that day, Kim Do-eup, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, asked, "The Civil Affairs Office is being abolished and its functions dispersed, but is the Personnel Information Management Team effectively under the authority of Minister Han Dong-hoon of the Ministry of Justice?"

Minister Han responded, "I properly conducted personnel verification and submitted it primarily, but when the appointing authority considers various factors and makes appointments, wouldn't I be blamed if problems arise later?" He also said, "I am not the one recommending personnel appointments."

He continued, "Later, when appointments are made and if something goes wrong, I cannot say, 'This person made a mistake,'" emphasizing, "I would be the one solely receiving criticism, and if public condemnation grows more severe, wouldn't I also have to take responsibility?"

In response to a question from Kim Seung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Why should the Ministry of Justice be responsible for personnel verification?" Minister Han said, "With the decisive abolition of the Civil Affairs Office, the personnel affairs of the Presidential Office have effectively disappeared," adding, "In acting on its behalf, we chose a path that could be objective and transparent amid these changes."

Furthermore, he explained, "The Ministry of Justice has special strengths in fact-finding and understanding legal issues, and there are many cases abroad where law enforcement agencies like the FBI conduct personnel verification," adding, "We chose the Ministry of Justice to routine and incorporate into the department’s regular duties the work that was previously conducted behind closed doors in the Presidential Office."

Minister Han stated, "The Ministry of Justice holds significant national assets in legal interpretation," and said, "I believe there is sufficient legal basis to handle personnel verification, and that the legal grounds have been adequately established through enforcement decrees delegated by the Constitution and laws."

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