Handonghun on Song Younggil's Voluntary Appearance: "Even if Anxious, Please Cooperate with Investigation Procedures"

Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, commented on the 7th regarding former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, who voluntarily appeared before the prosecution in connection with the Democratic Party's 'party convention money envelope suspicion,' saying, "Even if you are anxious, you should respond well to the investigation according to the procedures."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon [Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Han made this remark during a meeting with reporters at the Government Complex Gwacheon in the afternoon, stating, "The investigation is proceeding according to schedule."

Earlier, former leader Song voluntarily appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in the morning and requested a meeting with the investigation team but was refused. He immediately held a press conference, pointing out the fairness between the investigation into the money envelope suspicion and the investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee's alleged involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. He also demanded punishment starting with Minister Han, who did not submit his cellphone password in the 'Channel A case,' regarding allegations of evidence destruction.

In response, Minister Han said, "Is it appropriate to bring in party balance when investigating one's own crime?" and added, "I don't think the public will see it that way." Regarding the mention of the Channel A case, he dismissed it by saying, "Is that an answer that needs to be said?"

Regarding former leader Song's comparison of this case to the 2017 prosecution's 'money envelope dinner' case, Minister Han retorted, "Does giving out money envelopes during an election look the same as this?"

Minister Han reiterated, "Even if you are anxious, instead of dragging in various things, you should respond like everyone else according to the procedures."

On the controversy arising from opposition parties' remarks related to the Cheonan ship sinking incident, he said, "I am worried about how the public will view the Democratic Party calling the Cheonan sinking a self-destruction, or describing the Cheonan captain, who survived with his comrades after great hardship, as 'killing his comrades,' which is a severe distortion and disparagement of history."

Minister Han added, "The sinking of the Cheonan ship is historically evaluated as an illegal attack by North Korea," and "At some point, North Korea must be held clearly legally responsible. The Ministry of Justice will do what is necessary at the appropriate time."

Regarding reports that former Ssangbangwool Group chairman Kim Sung-tae testified to the prosecution that he gave former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan tens of millions of won every month, Minister Han said, "It is not a situation where I can comment on specific criminal charges," but added, "If a politician is confirmed to have received money from gangsters, shouldn't it naturally be investigated?"

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