"Was the 30-Year Sentence for Park Geun-hye Justified?"... Han Donghoon and Park Minsik Clash in Debate

Fierce Debate Over Conservative Leadership During Election Commission TV Debate on the 28th

Han: "I Fulfilled My Duty as a Public Official"... Park: "Was the 30-Year Sentence Justified?"

Independent candidate Han Donghoon and Park Minsik of the People Power Party, both running in the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election for the National Assembly, clashed head-on during a TV debate on the 28th over responsibility for the investigation into former President Park Geun-hye. With Ha Jungwoo, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, also joining the discussion, the debate escalated into a fierce dispute over the conservative bloc’s history and identity.

During the debate’s initiative round, Park Minsik intensely questioned Han Donghoon about his involvement in the investigation and trial of the Park Geun-hye administration’s corruption scandal. Park stated, “This case caused tremendous pain to conservative supporters,” and pressed, “Aren’t you responsible for the 2018 case in which a 30-year prison sentence and a 118.5 billion won fine were sought for former President Park Geun-hye?”

Independent candidate Han Donghoon (left in photo) and Park Minsik of the People Power Party continued their heated debate in a TV discussion for the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election on the 28th. Photo captured from KNN YouTube live broadcast.

He added, “Prosecutor Han Donghoon’s name appears in the trial records of the Seoul Central District Court from that time,” and argued, “Regardless of whether you read the closing statement or not, any prosecutor who attended the trial shares responsibility.”

In response, Han Donghoon acknowledged, “It’s true that I was involved in that case as a public official,” but added, “I personally feel sorry to former President Park Geun-hye.” He countered, “It is deeply disappointing to drag a former president into this discussion for the sake of a few more votes, when we should be talking about the future of Buk-gu Gap.”

Ha Jungwoo also criticized Han Donghoon, saying, “You speak of rational reform conservatism, but there are those who see this as a call to return to the era of Chun Doo-hwan in the 1980s.” Ha specifically targeted former Assemblyman Jung Hyungkeun, who serves as Han’s campaign chairman, stating, “Recruiting a figure symbolic of public security prosecution and human rights violations reveals your level of awareness about human rights.”

Han Donghoon responded by explaining, “Former Assemblyman Jung is a three-term lawmaker who contributed to regional development,” and added, “This appointment was meant to show that, for the sake of the region’s progress, we are willing to work with even those considered strong conservative symbols.”

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