Democratic Party Calls Han Dong-hoon’s Release of ‘Kim Seung-won-Broker Recording’ ‘Illegal Cabinet Dealing’

South Korea’s political fight over Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won has escalated into a dispute over a leaked recording and the handling of investigative material.

Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, and the People Power Party have attacked Kim over allegations that he lobbied for approval of clinical trials for a new COVID-19 drug. They have based their offensive on a recording of telephone calls between Kim and a broker identified by the surname Yang.

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Even during a personnel confirmation hearing, conducting it by leaking investigative materials in that way is an illegal act that shakes the foundations of the nation's investigative institutions.

The Democratic Party has responded by challenging Han’s route to obtaining the recording. On Sept. 6, the party launched a broad attack, suggesting that Han may have used his experience as a former justice minister and prosecutor to remove confidential investigative material.

A Democratic Party leadership official said that even during a confirmation hearing, using leaked investigative documents in this way could shake the foundations of the nation’s investigative institutions. The official described it as a crime and condemned what they called the deeply entrenched habits of a politically motivated prosecution system. The party has also filed a complaint against Han, seeking to shift the political battle toward the legality of the recording’s disclosure.

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It is a crime, and the very vicious habits of a politically motivated prosecution are now showing through.