The Han Dong-hoon Story

PART 04 Han Dong-hoon Finding Answers in the Lives of the People · Original Text 05

One day in January 2023, Han Dong-hoon's phone was bombarded with text messages. "Minister, a photo from a dinner gathering is spreading."

A photograph was circulating online.

It appeared to show Han Dong-hoon at a drinking gathering with young women. The opposition party immediately launched an attack.

"The Justice Minister received entertainment in Cheongdam-dong." "He has a moral flaw." "He should resign." Democratic Party members attacked Han Dong-hoon relentlessly in the National Assembly, on broadcast, and on social media. Former Democratic Party Chairman Yoo Si-min appeared on television to criticize him as well. The onslaught poured in. Han Dong-hoon did not remain silent.

"I will stake everything."

He held a press conference.

"That photograph is fabricated.

I was not at that gathering. I will present evidence."

Han Dong-hoon disclosed his phone records, credit card statements, and vehicle movement records. He was elsewhere on the date in question. The lie crumbled before the numbers. It did not take long for the truth to emerge. The photograph was a composite. Someone had created it with deliberate intention to damage Han Dong-hoon.

He filed a defamation suit.

The trial proceeded. The result was a victory for Han Dong-hoon.

He said:

"This is a battle against fake news. This is not just my personal problem. It is standing against attempts to destroy people through falsehoods."

Truth is slow, but it arrives eventually.

In 2023, a greater struggle awaited.

The arrest warrant request for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader.

The prosecution requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung over allegations of special favors in the Daejangdong development project and allegations of sponsorship funds for Seongnam FC.

The opposition party protested.

"This is political oppression." "This is prosecutorial autocracy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration."

The arrest consent motion was presented to the National Assembly. A member of the National Assembly cannot be arrested during the session without Assembly consent. If the arrest consent motion failed, the warrant would be worthless. The Democratic Party held an overwhelming majority. 168 seats. The People Power Party held 108 seats. If it came down to numbers, defeat was inevitable. The calculator already showed the answer. But on September 21st, something unexpected happened.

The arrest consent motion passed. Ayes 149, noes 136, abstentions 6, invalid votes 4. Members of the Democratic Party had voted against their own party.

Han Dong-hoon sank into thought that evening.

"This is the power of the common good."

There were people who transcended factional divides to call what was right, right. There were people who followed public common sense rather than party logic. Conscience broke through the wall of numbers. As Justice Minister, Han Dong-hoon fought a battle of one against 180. He faced the entire opposition party. He also received criticism from some members of his own party asking "why stir up this fight?" But he did not back down.

"If it is a fight for the common good, you must fight regardless of the outcome. There are times when you must fight even if you lose."

Fighting not to win but because it was right. That was Han Dong-hoon's way. In December 2023, Han Dong-hoon stepped down from his post as Justice Minister. It was a 19-month term. Short, if you measure it by time. Yet in that period, he changed much.

Revival of the Securities Crime Investigation Unit. Voice Phishing Joint Investigation Team. National Finance Crime Joint Investigation Team. Establishment of the National Immigration Service. Strengthening of the anti-stalking law. Lowering the age threshold for juvenile criminal liability. Improvement of the treatment of correctional officers.

And above all, the principle of strength to the strong, weakness to the weak.

Strong against the strong, weak against the weak.

As Han Dong-hoon left the minister's office, he reflected.

"Now the next fight waits."

He understood. The Justice Ministry was not an ending but a beginning. A larger stage awaited him.

There he would have to fight another battle of one against 180. Or perhaps one against 190.

Yet he was not afraid.

"If it is the right thing to do, you must do it. The outcome is a separate matter." A deep-rooted tree does not sway in the wind.

That was Han Dong-hoon.

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