Acting Justice Minister: "Kim Seung-won May Have Leaked Prosecution Documents"; Han Dong-hoon: "Be Careful About Making Statements You Cannot Take Responsibility For"

[Financial News] Acting Minister of Justice Lee Jin-su said on the 9th that an internal prosecution document was likely leaked in connection with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon’s disclosure of a prosecution case-processing plan during his allegations that Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, had solicited favors concerning a new drug. Lee said that if the document was indeed leaked from inside the prosecution, the act would constitute a crime.
Lee made the remarks during an interpellation session on political affairs held at the National Assembly that day.
Asked by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi whether the prosecution case-processing report disclosed by Han Dong-hoon through the media was an internal prosecution document, Lee replied, "I was told that a substantial portion of the quoted content was highly similar to the prosecution’s report on the planned handling of the case."
He continued, "It appears to be a document that was not compiled into the investigation or evidence records, and because it is a report concerning the handling of a case, it must not be leaked." He added, "In principle, providing investigative materials constitutes a crime because it amounts to the disclosure of official secrets or a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act."
Regarding the possibility that the former investigative team had leaked the materials, Lee said, "We cannot rule it out," adding, "A retired official must not take investigation-related materials with them." He continued, "Prosecution officials are likely to feel a profound sense of shame and disillusionment because of such leaks," and added, "These incidents become a source of public criticism of the prosecution."
Regarding an investigation by the Ministry of Justice, Lee said, "We are currently working to verify some of the facts," but added, "This matter has been reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the circumstances must be established clearly through an investigation."
In response, Han Dong-hoon wrote on social media, "It is regrettable that Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-su has shown such appalling judgment after conveying pressure to abandon Kim Man-bae’s group’s appeal and turning a blind eye to the abolition of supplementary investigations." He added, "Since none of that happened, you should serve the administration and work hard to uncover the truth, but you should be careful about making statements for which you cannot take responsibility."
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter