Democratic Party of Korea Representative Choo Mi-ae, who previously served as Minister of Justice, and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon have found themselves in a heated debate over the prosecution’s decision to drop its appeal in the Seongnam Daejang-dong development corruption case.
Choo, who chairs the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, expressed her views on Facebook on the 10th. She stated, “(Han’s repeated criticism of the appeal abandonment is) a scheme to draw attention by stirring up a scandal over the prosecution’s appeal abandonment.” She added, “Han Dong-hoon appears pathetically disoriented, as if he had been shot.”
Choo continued, “Did Han panic upon hearing the testimony of former Army Special Warfare Command commander Kwak Jong-geun, who claimed that Yoon Suk-yeol said, ‘Bring Han Dong-hoon in front of me! I will shoot and kill him myself’?” She then remarked, “Han Dong-hoon was once a partner of Yoon Suk-yeol. He turned the organization into a wasteland through political prosecutions.”
She further criticized Han, saying, “The salmon soju party scandal surfaced, as did threats from prosecutors to slit bellies and extract organs, the destruction of evidence by losing a belt, excuses claiming it was a mistake, and the Chanel bag case initially ruled as no charges—but the special counsel’s investigation revealed countless bribes and luxury items. Even as a prosecutor, he should hang his head in shame at such disgrace and humiliation.”
Choo also accused Han of intentionally weakening the Ministry of Justice’s response during the appellate trial to absolve Yoon Suk-yeol of disciplinary action. She added, “He even abandoned a case the ministry had won. As someone who undermined the very purpose of the Ministry of Justice, he has already lost his qualifications.”
In response to prosecutors who opposed the appeal abandonment, Choo declared, “This will be the final farce in the 80-year history of the prosecution.”
Former Representative Han responded the same day on Facebook, stating, “Choo Mi-ae seems to be in worse condition than during the Cho Kuk scandal five years ago,” and added, “The lie that Han Dong-hoon abandoned the appeal. Spreading falsehoods is routine for Choo Mi-ae, but legal action will be taken for defamation.”
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office decided not to submit an appellate brief by midnight on the 7th, the deadline, against private developers who were sentenced to heavy prison terms in the first trial for the Daejang-dong development corruption case. Han had criticized this decision, saying, “The Korean prosecution has committed suicide.”