Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon launched a sharp counterattack against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, accusing him of turning the tables after Kim described Han's allegations about Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won as a "continuation of insurrection."
In a social media post on the 12th, Han wrote: "Kim Min-seok, who fled on the day of martial law, says that Han Dong-hoon, who stopped martial law, is engaged in a 'continuation of insurrection' by blocking the poison lobbying of the Democratic Party's 'oppas.'" He added sarcastically: "The party leader said that the more he looks at Kim Seung-won, the better a pick he seems. Well, the more I look at the Democratic Party leader, the better a pick he seems too." The remarks were a rebuttal to Kim's criticism a day earlier linking Han to a continuation of insurrection.
Han argued that "Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok barks but lacks the courage to bite, so he mobilizes the police." He continued: "With policing riddled with holes after the abolition of supplementary investigations, do the police really have so little to do?" He wrote: "The train runs on even when dogs bark. I will keep going, looking only at the people."
Han also strongly objected to the police opening an investigation into the alleged disclosure of official secrets involving documents related to Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, calling it a "political investigation." "I have never seen the police move this quickly after receiving a single political complaint with no specifics and no grounds," Han said. "Have the police also decided to serve as the teeth of the Democratic Party's oppas?"
The investigation began after Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Dong-ah filed a complaint on the 7th with the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency against an unidentified person who allegedly passed internal documents concerning Han and the nominee, on charges including disclosure of official secrets. The Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station, which was assigned the case, has begun investigating, recently questioning the complainant.
Han has disputed the Democratic Party's claim that he used internal prosecution documents in raising allegations that the nominee sought favors over a new drug's clinical trials. He maintains that the documents were not leaked from the prosecution or other investigative agencies.
At a recent news conference at the National Assembly, Han said he keeps posting on Facebook "because I am confident about the source and have no reason to hide behind parliamentary immunity." He also made clear that he will continue raising questions about the nominee regardless of the police investigation.
