DP: "Han Donghoon's Disclosure Is a Materials Delivery Gate"... Han Seong-sook Orders Leak Investigation

Parliamentary Interpellation on Political Affairs
Acting Minister of Justice: "Matter to Be Clarified Through Investigation"

Regarding the "New Drug Solicitation" allegations against Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's disclosure of investigation materials such as recorded transcripts, the Democratic Party of Korea called for an investigation and further action. In response, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated, "I will instruct a thorough examination of the circumstances of the leak, its legality, and the facts involved."

On September 9, Assemblyman Lee Hae-sik of the Democratic Party called on the Prime Minister during the political issue Q&A session at the National Assembly, urging, "The Prime Minister must immediately conduct an inspection and investigation to identify the source and route of the leak of the investigation materials. There must also be punishment for those involved and a reform of the investigation information management system."

Prime Minister Han said, "If confidential investigation materials are leaked or used externally without going through legal procedures, it is a very serious matter."

Jeon Yong-gi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, held up a protest sign during the 5th plenary session of the 439th regular National Assembly meeting held on the 9th, addressing questions to the government on political matters. The sign referred to the allegations raised by Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, and the opposition regarding the nomination of Kim Seung-won as Minister of Justice. They called the leaking of prosecution investigation materials the "Investigation Data Bribery Gate." 2 Yonhap News Agency

Assemblyman Jeon Yong-gi of the Democratic Party also commented during the Q&A session on the materials disclosed by Assemblyman Han, stating, "Investigation and prosecution planning reports containing information that could only be known by prosecutors directly involved in the investigation have been published on social media. This has become a completely separate incident from the nomination of Kim Seung-won as Minister of Justice. It is so-called a 'gate' in which investigation materials were handed over to former prosecutors or former Ministers of Justice."

Lee Jin-soo, Acting Minister of Justice, stated, "I have received reports that much of the content is almost identical to the prosecution's planned case handling report." Regarding the possibility of external leaks of the investigation and prosecution planning reports, Acting Minister Lee emphasized, "Internal reports prepared during the prosecution's decision-making process must not be leaked to the outside under any circumstances." He added, "Since the matter has already been reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and is a very serious issue, the facts must be established through an investigation."

On whether the leaks might have occurred via former members of the investigation team, Acting Minister Lee said, "It cannot be ruled out." Regarding verification at the Ministry of Justice level, he remarked, "Since the matter has been reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, I believe the circumstances must be clarified through its investigation. Because the evidence to be investigated could be affected in the process of confirming the facts, we are reviewing this issue carefully."

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