Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon holds a press conference at the National Assembly's media center in Yeouido, Seoul, on Saturday, the same day Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won announced his voluntary withdrawal. [Yonhap]
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon holds a press conference at the National Assembly's media center in Yeouido, Seoul, on Saturday, the same day Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won announced his voluntary withdrawal. [Yonhap]

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon called Saturday for a special prosecutor investigation into Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, hours after Kim announced his voluntary withdrawal amid allegations that he lobbied for approval of a new drug clinical trial.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly's media center in Yeouido at 2 p.m., Han said the president and the ruling party had "mobilized every resource to defend Kim Seung-won to the last, only to ultimately abandon that effort and withdraw the nomination," adding, "This is the people's victory."

Han went on to say that the withdrawal alone was far from sufficient to address what he described as the "oppa drug-lobbying scandal" — a reference to allegations that Kim sought approval for a new drug clinical trial on behalf of a family member. "A special prosecutor is needed to uncover the full picture of the lobbying and hold those responsible accountable," he said.

He also warned that details about the nominee were set to be reported in the media on Saturday, and said the Democratic Party "would do well to file its own complaint first."

In response to follow-up questions, Han added that he had been receiving indirect tip-offs "for some time" suggesting there was substance to allegations involving the nominee's drinking and sexual misconduct, and that he was in the process of verifying them.

Han, who had led the push to raise allegations against Kim, also addressed the sharp counterattacks from both Kim and the Democratic Party. "In his withdrawal statement, the nominee showed no remorse for his own wrongdoing — only a plan for revenge against me for making it public," Han said.

He went on to say that while Kim and the Democratic Party had threatened retaliation against him, "the vast majority of the public does not support Kim Seung-won." He added, "Threatening revenge against me — someone who led the charge to withdraw Kim Seung-won on behalf of the people — is the same as the Lee Jae Myung Democratic Party government threatening revenge against the people."

In his withdrawal statement earlier Saturday, Kim trained his fire squarely on Han, vowing to "expose the full truth of the politically motivated investigation by the Yoon Suk Yeol–Han Dong-hoon prosecutorial apparatus, and of Han Dong-hoon's illegal leaking and splicing of confidential investigative materials."

Democratic Party Supreme Council member Jeon Yong-gi also weighed in after Kim's announcement, saying "it is now Han's turn" and calling for a thorough investigation into the origins of documents — including what he called an "indictment planning report" — that Han had made public, and how they came to be in Han's possession.

Han closed with a warning directed at the government. "The Lee Jae Myung Democratic Party administration must fundamentally change the direction of its governance now," he said. "Otherwise, even if President Lee's trial does not resume, he will not be able to complete his term. This is a moment to come to their senses."


balme@heraldcorp.com