Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon [Yonhap]
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon [Yonhap]

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on Saturday criticized President Lee Jae Myung for apologizing to former Democratic Party lawmaker No Ung-rae — who was acquitted on appeal of charges of receiving illegal political funds — calling it "an obvious scheme to build up toward withdrawing the indictment."

Han made the remarks on Facebook, addressing the president directly: "After embarrassing yourself by acting as a backer for Baek Hae-ryong, you're now playing the melodrama role over former Rep. No's cash-envelope case."

On Friday, Lee posted on social media in response to No's appellate acquittal, referencing his decision as Democratic Party leader to bar No from the party's candidate list in the 2024 general election. Lee said he "had no choice but to make a painful sacrifice and go along with the political prosecutors' abuses for the sake of the overall election," and apologized.

Lee went on to say he would "make sure to build a country where innocent citizens are never again sacrificed through the abuse of state power."

Meanwhile, Han also took aim at Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, who had said of the No case: "This is a case where prosecutors fabricated a frame and ensnared an innocent person. Those who have been hit with fabricated indictments know — Song Young-gil, No Ung-rae … " Han responded: "Is the case in which you yourself received 920 million won ($660,000) in illicit funds not even what you call 'fabrication'? I ask whether Rep. Kim left himself out on purpose."

Earlier, when Han served as justice minister under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, he told a plenary session of the National Assembly in December 2022 — while explaining the need to approve a motion to arrest No — that "even the rustling sound of the cash envelope was captured on the recording." Figures in the ruling camp have since criticized him over the remark, saying "the rustling sound is not an acquittal — take responsibility and prostrate yourself."

Han rebuffed the criticism on Friday, saying No "was not acquitted because it turned out he did not actually receive money," but rather "on the formal grounds of excluding illegally obtained evidence, such as the audio recording."


yjc@heraldcorp.com