Democratic Party Steps Up Offensive Over Allegations Involving Han Donghoon's Daughter... Ruling Bloc: "Reinvestigate" vs. Han: "False Claims"

Ruling bloc revives allegations over Han Donghoon's daughter's volunteer work and copyright issues
Han stresses finding of no wrongdoing and hits back over allegations involving Kim Minseok's son
Repeated clashes with the ruling bloc also seen as bo

The Democratic Party of Korea is stepping up its offensive, calling for a reinvestigation into past allegations involving the daughter of independent lawmaker Han Donghoon. Han, who has clashed with the ruling camp over major recent issues, is now sparring with the Democratic Party over allegations concerning his daughter.

According to political sources on October 12, Democratic Party lawmakers raised a series of allegations that day on radio programs and at a news conference concerning Han's daughter's volunteer work records and alleged violations of the Copyright Act.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu held a news conference at the National Assembly Communication Center and claimed, "The investigation found that the daughter herself did not sign the volunteer log, and that what she actually did was adjust and support other volunteers' class schedules remotely." He added, "As far as I have confirmed, that is correct. I heard it directly from the person who was running the center at the time."

Han countered, "Although the complainant filed an objection and the investigative review committee convened twice, the matter was concluded with a finding of no wrongdoing," adding, "The conclusion was that this was not falsification or forgery, but a failure by the center to properly manage its records."

Independent lawmaker Han Donghoon. Reporter Yoon Dongju.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jumin also renewed calls that day on MBC radio for a reinvestigation into allegations that Han's daughter violated the Copyright Act. The case involved allegations that she produced and sold e-books without the consent of foreign copyright holders; police found no wrongdoing in 2023. The Democratic Party has also questioned the investigation, pointing out that Han was serving as justice minister at the time.

"Given the copyright infringement issue and the profit-making purpose, the statute of limitations has not expired, so the investigation should be resumed," Park said. Han retorted, "This is a matter for which approval was even obtained from the foreign copyright holders," calling the allegations "a Democratic Party delusion about something that does not exist at all."

The Democratic Party's offensive against Han has continued since last week. On October 7, Jeong Bong-ju, a special adviser for party affairs to the Democratic Party leader, announced plans to form a task force to investigate allegations involving Han. Han responded that Democratic Party lawmakers had sponsored bills similar to one written by Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok's son while he was in high school, calling it "a classic case of 'daddy connections.'"

Both sides are also escalating their rhetoric. On CBS Radio that day, Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won criticized Han, saying, "I don't think he is human." Han also responded with harsh language, saying the Democratic Party was "coming at me like a pack of dogs."

Some in political circles see the repeated clashes as part of Han's strategy to expand his political standing. Han has recently taken on the ruling camp over the confirmation hearing for a justice minister nominee, the wooden-box land mine incident, and debates concerning the late former President Roh Moo-hyun. A first-term lawmaker from the conservative bloc said, "Han, whose support base lies among centrists, is pursuing an attack strategy of moving as far to the right as possible to win over even hard-line party members. I think Han himself has a well-planned political strategy."

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