On the Last Day as Minister, Han Dong-hoon Gifted Books to Prospective High School Students... "Wishing You Good Luck"

Gift of the book "Moby-Dick" to the student who sent a beaded cross-stitch artwork
Handwritten letter: "Today is my last day working at the Ministry of Justice. Stay healthy."

Former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, who was appointed as the chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee, was recently revealed to have gifted a book he often enjoyed reading to a prospective high school freshman on his last working day.

On the 22nd, an online community post by a prospective high school student shared that they received the book Moby-Dick along with a short handwritten letter from former Minister Han.

Former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon gifted the book 'Moby Dick' to a prospective high school freshman.
[Photo by Online Community]

Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick was mentioned as one of former Minister Han’s favorite books. In a written response sent to the National Assembly when he was nominated as minister, Han cited Moby-Dick along with Oe Kenzaburo’s Hunting the Hippopotamus and Raymond Carver’s short stories as books that left a deep impression on him.

The novel tells the story of Captain Ahab, who loses one leg to the whale Moby-Dick and pursues the whale in revenge.

The author of the post, a girl who identified herself as a prospective first-year high school student named A, said, “After school, I was surprised to find a package from the Ministry of Justice at home,” adding, “I had previously sent a heartfelt letter along with a newly made gemstone cross-stitch artwork, crafted stitch by stitch with my mother, to the Ministry of Justice, and I received a reply.”

The photo posted by the author included a handwritten letter from former Minister Han. Han wrote, “Dear ○○, thank you for your sincere gift. I wish you good luck. Today is my last day working at the Ministry of Justice. Stay healthy! Sincerely, Han Dong-hoon.”

A said, “Even though he was busy, he wrote and sent a message on his last day at the Ministry of Justice just yesterday,” and added, “I was touched by the minister’s thoughtfulness for his fans and, broadly speaking, his consideration for the people.”

Former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, nominated as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party /
[Photo by Yonhap News]

It is reported that former Minister Han often sent books as gifts in response to letters from supporters and citizens sent to the Ministry of Justice office. In September, when a fourth-grade boy from an elementary school in Seoul sent Han a letter along with a sticker of the Pok?mon character 'Squirtle,' Han replied with a letter and gifted the book Moby-Dick.

At that time, Han wrote in his handwritten letter, “This is a book I like, but if you read it now, it will surely be boring. It was published in 1851 and has survived for 172 years, so don’t rush; read it when you feel like it.”

Earlier, on the 21st, former Minister Han expressed his intention to resign upon accepting the position of chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee. He is scheduled to officially assume the chairmanship after the party’s national committee approval on the 26th.

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