Law "Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, Should Disclose Details of US Business Trip Expenses"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A court ruling has been made that the expense details of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon’s business trip to the United States last year must be disclosed.

On the 24th, the Seoul Administrative Court Administrative Division 12 (Presiding Judge Jung Yong-seok) ruled in favor of Ha Seung-soo, head of the organization "Catch the Tax Thief," in a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice seeking to overturn the refusal to disclose information.

Previously, Minister Han traveled to the United States for nine days from June 29 to July 7 last year to discuss ways to build cooperation and collaboration between Korean and U.S. judicial institutions. Regarding this, there were criticisms that out of the 9 days of the trip, 3 days had no scheduled activities, and that the itinerary was excessively loose despite it being a trip taken immediately after assuming office.

Ha requested the Ministry of Justice to disclose the detailed execution and supporting documents for the approximately 48 million won spent on Minister Han’s U.S. trip, but the Ministry refused, citing "matters related to national security and diplomatic relations."

Ha filed a lawsuit last November, stating, "How much was spent on plane tickets, where and how much was spent on meals, and which hotel was stayed at and for how much are not secrets."

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