Handonghun: "Democratic Party's Judicial Obstruction Close to Criminal Territory"... "North Korea Remittance Is Personal Corruption"

On the 30th, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, strongly condemned the Democratic Party of Korea's various actions related to the illegal remittance to North Korea allegations under investigation by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, describing them as acts to block the investigation into Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and stating that they are "close to the realm of crimes such as evidence destruction or perjury inducement."

In a statement sent to reporters that afternoon regarding the Democratic Party's claim of a "lenient investigation on Kim Sung-tae to protect Lee Jae-myung," Minister Han said, "'Pressuring former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young' didn't work, so now they are 'changing the target' to 'pressuring Kim Sung-tae'?" He added, "Mobilizing the political power of the ruling party so persistently to obstruct the criminal investigation of their party leader is not within the 'realm of politics' but rather close to the 'realm of crimes' such as 'evidence destruction' or 'perjury inducement.'"

He further stated, "Moreover, 'sending gangsters to North Korea to deliver bribes for the governor's visit to North Korea' is a 'personal corruption unrelated to the Democratic Party.'"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is answering questions from the press at the National Assembly. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the same day, the Democratic Party's Committee for Countermeasures Against Prosecutorial Dictatorship and Political Oppression issued a statement claiming, "It has been revealed that the prosecution has consistently been lenient regarding the stock manipulation charges against Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool," and argued, "The more the Ssangbangwool stock manipulation allegations are thoroughly investigated, the more Lee Jae-myung distances himself from the Ssangbangwool case."

The committee stated, "It seems the prosecution has created another sacred cow regarding stock manipulation. The allegations of stock manipulation against Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool, who is being investigated as they try to find connections to Lee Jae-myung, are being swept under the rug," and added, "An analysis of the indictment against Kim Sung-tae revealed that the prosecution has consistently been lenient not only on charges of violating the National Security Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes but also on stock manipulation charges."

Minister Han had previously strongly criticized the Democratic Party members' actions of visiting the prosecutorial office under investigation, staging collective sit-ins, and applying for special visits to former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, who recently reversed her previous stance on illegal remittances to North Korea and admitted Lee Jae-myung's involvement, calling these actions "the worst judicial obstruction" and "stalking."

He said, "The Democratic Party is crowding into the prosecution office to overturn unfavorable testimonies for their side, lying down, organizing fund-raising campaigns for fines, issuing statements, contacting families, and pressuring to reverse testimonies through visits," calling it "the worst judicial obstruction abusing power and behavior close to stalking."

In particular, Minister Han referred to a past controversy when Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho, a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, was reported to have told Jeong Jin-sang and Kim Yong, who were incarcerated, to "make a good alibi" during special visits, and criticized the Democratic Party's current attempt to meet former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young through special visit applications by asking, "Are they now going to do that collectively? Such actions must not be allowed."

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