Han Dong-hoon Appointed as First Minister of Justice under Yoon Administration: "The Right Person to Establish Modernization of Legal Administration"

by Lee Kimin

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 13 Apr.2022 14:16(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee and Dong-hoon Jung] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol nominated Han Dong-hoon, Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (27th class, Chief Prosecutor), as the first Minister of Justice in the new administration on the 13th.

At 2 p.m. on the same day, Yoon held a press conference at the transition office in Tongui-dong, Seoul, announcing Han's nomination as Minister of Justice. He explained, "Han has built expertise over more than 20 years in key positions within the Ministry of Justice and prosecution, specializing in investigation and trial, prosecutorial systems, and legal administration. I judged him to be the right person to modernize legal administration and establish a judicial system that meets global standards."

When reporters asked why Chief Prosecutor Han was a surprise pick for Minister of Justice, Yoon responded, "Han is the best candidate to handle legal administration not only through investigation and trial law enforcement but also through planning work in prosecution. This is not an unprecedented appointment," dismissing the idea of a radical personnel move.

Han, a leading figure in the prosecution's special investigations division, investigated cases related to the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations during his tenure as the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, as well as the abuse of judicial administrative power case during Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae's era. Additionally, Yoon is known to have described Han to his close aides as "a prosecutor who wouldn't listen even if I asked," highlighting his reputation as a 'toughest of the tough.'

Han is a close associate of Yoon within the prosecution. After Yoon became Prosecutor General, Han was promoted to Chief Prosecutor and served as head of the Anti-Corruption and Violence Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Since the investigation of Cho Kuk conducted by the Special Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office during his time as head of the Anti-Corruption and Violence Division, Han has been demoted four times. Recently, in relation to the Channel A case, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office cleared him of charges.