South Korea’s Democratic Party Accuses Han Dong-hoon of Political Operation Using Confidential Case Files

South Korea’s Democratic Party has reported independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon to the anti-corruption agency, arguing that materials he released about Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won could only have come through restricted investigative channels.

The party said on the 6th that Han had led allegations involving Kim, including claims related to requests for favors over new drugs, while publishing recordings and documents whose acquisition it questioned. Democratic lawmaker Kim Dong-ah said Han had posted text messages, bank transaction records and conversations obtained during a past investigation into Kim. He also said Han had disclosed the contents of an internal prosecution document setting out a plan to bring charges.

Kim called the disclosures clear violations of official secrecy, rules against publicizing facts about suspects, the Personal Information Protection Act and the Public Records Management Act. He described the alleged use of confidential investigative records in political disputes as a serious crime and said the party was reporting Han to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

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The Democratic Party filed a complaint against me to silence me.

Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Gye-won separately said private call recordings could emerge only through the parties involved, investigative agencies or other limited channels. He said any illegality in how the recordings were obtained or leaked could constitute a clear crime, and accused Han of using “cabinet politics” under the guise of vetting.

Han responded on Facebook that the Democratic Party had filed the complaint to silence him. He said that people who provide information in the public interest still exist.

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There are still many righteous people in the world who provide information for the public interest.