"Kim Seung-won met petition submitter in person"

"Lawmakers who stayed silent should resign"

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon speaks to reporters at the National Assembly on Sunday about the withdrawal of Kim Seung-won's nomination as justice minister and the Democratic Party of Korea's response. [Yonhap]
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon speaks to reporters at the National Assembly on Sunday about the withdrawal of Kim Seung-won's nomination as justice minister and the Democratic Party of Korea's response. [Yonhap]

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on Sunday called on Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok to answer for his support of Kim Seung-won, the withdrawn nominee for justice minister. "Let's talk about Kim Seung-won, not Han Dong-hoon," he said. "Party leader Kim Min-seok — is he still a great pick the more you look at him?"

Writing on Facebook that day, Han said Kim Seung-won, who had denied any knowledge of a petition, had in fact met personally with the person who submitted it. "This is the Democratic Party that rallied to defend Kim Seung-won — a man who lies every time he opens his mouth — calling him 'a better pick the more you look at him,'" Han said, citing Kim Min-seok's earlier praise of the nominee.

Earlier, at his withdrawal press conference on Saturday, the former nominee had targeted Han, who had led the offensive against him through leaked recordings and other disclosures. Kim Seung-won vowed to "expose the full truth behind the illegal leak and splicing of investigative secrets." The Democratic Party had also characterized Han's methods of disclosure as criminal and signaled it would pursue legal action.

In response, Han told reporters at the National Assembly on Sunday that the key issue was not whether a petition had been received, but whether its contents were true. "I have already confirmed that a substantial portion of the contents is true," he said.

Han said the incident involved sexual misconduct, an attempt to cover it up, and the presence of other Democratic Party lawmakers besides Kim Seung-won. "Lawmakers who kept their mouths shut should resign their seats," he said. He also urged the party to clarify when it learned of the petition, saying it had apparently reached party leader Kim Min-seok before being forwarded to Cheong Wa Dae. "There was also reckless drunk driving and gapjil — abusive behavior — by the former nominee. Kim Min-seok and the other Democratic Party lawmakers need to say when they were tipped off about this petition," he said.

Asked whether he had personally contacted the petition's author, Han said he believed whistleblowers must be protected and that he had a duty to prevent further harm to the victim. "If any part of it were wrong, the former nominee and Cheong Wa Dae would not be taking the position they are," he said.


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