Han Donghoon: "The Target of DP's Revenge Is Not the Prosecution but the Victims... Crimes Will Be Buried and Injustice Remain"

"Ruling Party Expands Grounds for Dismissing Indictments...Malicious Intent Suspected"

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon criticized the ruling party's attempt to pass a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act on July 29, which is centered on abolishing the prosecution’s supplementary investigation rights, stating, "The Democratic Party is not taking revenge against the prosecution. They are targeting victims, such as those in the Jang Yunki case and the (Busan) Kicking Assault case." He added, "The biggest problem with this bill is that ordinary citizens are the ones suffering due to the Democratic Party’s behavior."

That afternoon, Han held an emergency seminar titled "Prohibition of Supplementary Investigations: Will You Ultimately Side with the Criminals?" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, where he participated as a panelist and made these remarks.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon is speaking at an emergency seminar titled "Prohibition of Supplementary Investigations: Will You Ultimately Side with the Criminals?" held on the 29th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Yonhap News.

Han stated, "The Democratic Party (through the passage of this bill) wants to gratify the revengeful sentiments of its core supporters, but this is nothing more than shadow boxing with a ghost." He went on, "From October 2, the prosecution will be gone. So why are you seeking revenge against the prosecution?" He continued, "Why are you inflicting your vengeance in the wrong place? Isn’t it the victims who will end up suffering because of the passage of this bill?"

Han noted, "Because of such concerns, a debate has recently reignited within the Democratic Party over whether abolishing the prosecution’s supplementary investigation rights is the right thing to do." He explained, "Under these circumstances, a race for ideological purity has erupted ahead of the party convention, and currently, figures like Kim Minseok and Chung Cheongrae are escalating this competition, even to the point of theatrics such as sticking a 10,000-won bill in a pig’s head." Han also stressed, "The biggest problem is that too many ordinary citizens and vulnerable people are suffering as a result."

Han pointed out that the Democratic Party, after attempting to change the police’s emergency arrest approval system to notification and then withdrawing the plan, "added something even worse to Article 327 of the bill." He stated, "They inserted a provision that drastically expands the scope of dismissal of indictments by a court ruling. Hadn’t this subject never been discussed until now?" He further criticized, "This morning, the Democratic Party inserted it. The intention is extremely malignant."

Han explained, "Prosecution withdrawal is only possible until the first trial, but a court’s dismissal of indictment can be done after the appellate trial as well." He said, "What the Democratic Party has continually argued is that, if an investigation is deemed unreasonable, it’s an extremely vague and discretionary concept. Now, by inserting a few more provisions, it has expanded the scope under which a court can decide on dismissal without ruling on guilt or innocence."

Regarding the part of the bill that mandates all cases of the seven major crimes against vulnerable groups be transferred, Han said, "You cannot divide crimes suffered by vulnerable people simply by legal name. Even if it’s a single crime, multiple motives and types such as fraud or theft are interrelated." He criticized, "This was hastily drafted by someone with no real experience. In reality, it is rare that only one specific charge is transferred."

Han remarked, "The real villains are those who make the criminal justice system more complicated," and added, "When case processing becomes complicated, it becomes profitable for some. People with money can take advantage of this, but those without money will end up giving up in resignation." He emphasized, "Whether it’s due to incompetence or prowess, ruining the system itself is a major crime, but knowingly destroying it is an unforgivable sin."

Han concluded, "If the bill passes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee today and the full assembly tomorrow, crime will go unpunished, and injustice will remain. The cowardice of the Democratic Party, Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho, and officials at the Ministry of Justice will also be permanently on record."

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