The Ruling Party Supports Drafting, the Opposition Calls for Impeachment... All Eyes on Han Dong-hoon

As the Constitutional Court ruled the 'Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights Act (Geomsu Wanbak Law)' valid, impeachment talks against Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon have emerged within the Democratic Party of Korea. However, since pushing this too hastily could backfire, the mood is shifting toward demanding Han's resignation. Within the ruling party, voices are also emerging that Han should be drafted as a 'new face' to lead a rise in approval ratings ahead of the general election in a year.

On the 27th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk said on YTN's "News King Park Ji-hoon" that "I think going toward impeachment is absolutely unreasonable," adding, "It is as if impeachment has already been done by the Constitutional Court's decision," drawing a line against impeachment talks within the party. Instead, he plans to demand Han's resignation at the upcoming plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day.

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is speaking at the Civil, Party, and Government Council on Measures to Respond to Serious Financial Crimes Affecting People's Livelihoods and Financial Relief Measures held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Within the Democratic Party, impeachment talks against Minister Han are being raised mainly by the pro-Moon Jae-in faction. On the 24th, lawmaker Kim Yong-min wrote on his social media, "The childish minister who throws tantrums everywhere because the sweet candy in his hand is taken away must be punished. Impeachment is the answer," and on the same day, lawmaker Hwang Un-ha said on BBS's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal," "If Minister Han refuses to resign, impeachment, for example, could be considered at the National Assembly level."

However, there are concerns that a clash similar to that between former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl during the Moon Jae-in administration could be repeated, making impeachment efforts difficult. Park Soo-young, the next head of the Yeouido Institute and a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "President Yoon was the first Prosecutor General to be disciplined by former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, but he completely rose as a national hero. If impeachment against Minister Han is pushed, it could end up repeating the same mistake."

The ruling party, on its part, is in a situation where Han's presence is desperately needed. After the party convention ended, the People Power Party's approval ratings declined, falling slightly below the Democratic Party's ratings. This is why the call to draft Minister Han is emerging a year ahead of the general election. Regarding the 'drafting theory,' lawmaker Park said, "Minister Han should make his own judgment," but added, "Born in 1973, he can be seen as a leader of Generation X, and I personally hope he comes out to push aside the existing 586 generation, the so-called activist generation, so that a new generation can rise," expressing a positive view of Han's political debut.

Even aside from the 'drafting theory,' there are already indications that Minister Han is stepping into politics. Jeong Tae-ho, head of the Democratic Research Institute, said on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," "In my view, Minister Han is no longer a public official but is already engaged in politics," adding, "Looking at his speeches in the National Assembly, legal credibility is the most important thing for a Justice Minister, but he makes far more political remarks."

However, since more than a year remains until the general election and there are many tasks to be done as Justice Minister, some argue that drafting him is premature. Lawmaker Sung Il-jong said on SBS Radio, "The party has never considered drafting Minister Han, and there is still a lot of time before the general election," adding, "It is important for him to perform his ministerial duties well, and I think such speculative reports are incorrect."

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