Kim Min-seok, Han Dong-hoon trade barbs in escalating feud

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon continued their public feud Tuesday, trading sharp attacks over a string of controversies.

Kim took to Facebook to go after Han, saying he had "hoped Han might be different from Yoon Suk Yeol, but sure enough, they are half-brothers of the same blood." He said Han had "reincarnated as the younger brother" of former President Yoon — who "ran amok with martial law while crying out to destroy anti-state forces" — by unleashing what Kim called a "verbal martial law" driven by a "passionate inferiority complex against the democratization generation" and threats to "pull teeth."

Kim added that Han had been better off as the "snarky Dong-hoon" who fielded questions during interpellation sessions when he was a minister, saying the current "foul-mouthed Dong-hoon" had a short shelf life.

The exchange followed remarks Han made to reporters in which he said: "Kim Min-seok says people like Han Dong-hoon shouldn't be in the National Assembly — so does that mean only people like Kim Min-seok, who pocketed 900 million won and partied with hostesses at a room salon on the eve of the May 18 anniversary, deserve to stay?"

The 900 million won reference appears to relate to a guilty verdict against Kim for violating the Political Funds Act, stemming from his indictment over a total of about 900 million won in political funds he allegedly received in 2002 and between 2007 and 2008.

Kim rebuffed the charge, saying that according to the record of questions posed by lawmaker Hwang Un-ha at his 2025 prime minister confirmation hearing, "my case was one where I became a sacrificial victim of the first work of prosecutors belonging to 'Ugeomhoe,' including Yoon Suk Yeol, Han Dong-hoon and Lee In-gyu."

He also said the case involved a clerical worker's failure to issue receipts for central party funds earmarked for the Seoul mayoral election, and called it "a textbook targeted prosecution, distinct from similar cases involving lawmakers Kim Gi-hyeon and Kim Moon-soo, who were not indicted despite the same receipt omissions."

On the May 18 eve controversy, Kim rebuffed Han's claim, saying former lawmaker Kim Seong-ho — who served as vice director of the People Power Party's Yeouido Institute — and former lawmaker Jang Seong-min — who served as future strategy planning director at Cheong Wa Dae under the Yoon administration — had both testified that he had not been drinking or with anyone at the time.

Kim also warned Han: "I have shared explanations and relevant materials regarding the statements you made about me, so if you make similar remarks again, would it be all right if I respond with legal action for defamation based on false facts?"

On Han's repeated public disclosures alleging that Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won had lobbied on behalf of a new drug clinical trial, Kim said Han would "face legal proceedings as a key figure or suspect in the illegal leak of internal prosecutorial documents," and told him to "faithfully comply with any related legal summons."

Han fired back in a series of Facebook posts, telling Kim to "get a grip" and sarcastically claiming that Kim's lengthy post amounted to a full admission — of receiving 900 million won in illicit funds and of visiting a room salon with hostesses on the night before the May 18 anniversary.

Han also challenged Kim directly, writing: "Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok — you apparently even have emails you wrote yourself. Tell me what exactly you plan to take legal action over." He followed up with another post: "Don't bark if you can't bite."

Responding to Kim's "verbal martial law" remark, Han said: "Kim, who was too scared to show up for the martial law lift vote on the night of the declaration — what on earth is 'verbal martial law' supposed to mean?" He added: "You seem to think you're dealing with politicians who cower the moment martial law is mentioned. I'm not one of them."