Democratic Party respects Kim's withdrawal, turns fire on Han Dong-hoon over leaked prosecution records

The Democratic Party of Korea said Saturday it "respects the agonizing decision" of Kim Seung-won to withdraw his nomination as minister of justice.

At the same time, the party went on the offensive against independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who had spearheaded allegations that Kim lobbied for approval of a new drug clinical trial, demanding a full accounting of how Han obtained what appeared to be leaked prosecution records. The Rebuilding Korea Party also joined the attack, questioning how Han came to possess the documents.

Chief Spokesperson Park Seong-jun said in a written briefing that Kim's decision reflected "his resolve not to add to the burden on state affairs," adding that the party "respects his agonizing decision." Park added that the Democratic Party "will listen with an even more humble and modest attitude and do its utmost for the success of the people's sovereignty government."

Rep. Seo Yeong-gyo, who chairs the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, wrote on Facebook that she found the withdrawal "regrettable but respects the decision," while Kang Deuk-gu, head of the Democratic Research Institute, described Kim as "a public servant who put the nation and the people before personal political gain."

Rep. Park Ji-won, also a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, wrote on Facebook that Kim's choice to step down voluntarily "to ease the burden on the president is a model of selfless sacrifice."

The Democratic Party used Kim's withdrawal as an opportunity to press for an investigation into allegations that Han leaked prosecution records.

Supreme Council member Jeon Yong-gi said Kim's resignation "does not justify the entire process by which the allegations were raised," adding that "it is now Han's turn to answer."

He said the origins of documents Han made public — including what appeared to be an "indictment planning report" and other prosecution-related materials — must be thoroughly investigated, along with how they ended up in Han's hands. "If confidential investigation materials were improperly leaked and used for political purposes, both the person who handed over the documents and the person who used them must be held strictly accountable under the law," he said.

Kang also said that "if the information was obtained through improper channels, this goes beyond a simple political attack and shakes the very foundation of public discipline and the rule of law," urging that the circumstances of how the documents were obtained "must be established without fail."

Supreme Council member Han Min-su also argued that Han Dong-hoon's alleged involvement in leaking prosecution records "must be punished to the end with zero tolerance."

The Rebuilding Korea Party joined in the criticism of Han Dong-hoon. Spokesperson Park Byeong-eon said in a statement that the party "extends words of consolation to Rep. Kim Seung-won, who decided to withdraw voluntarily out of consideration for President Lee Jae Myung's political burden, despite having the will and ability to carry out prosecution reform."

Park went on to say that "even if there were aspects the nominee needed to clarify, it is deeply concerning that the 'politics of editing investigation materials,' driven by Han Dong-hoon, has made a comeback," and appealed for "the progressive camp to unite and block the revival of this 'politics of editing investigation materials.'"