Han Dong-hoon Criticizes Assembly Passage of Special Prosecutor Act
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon called the newly passed “Fabricated Prosecution Special Prosecutor Act” a “privilege law” designed to shield political power, according to a report by the Hankyoreh. The legislation cleared the National Assembly plenary session the previous day, following a push by the Democratic Party.
Writing on his Facebook page, Han argued that the measure does not target general criminal activity. Instead, he claimed it gives a single high-ranking official the unique power to bypass ongoing court proceedings outside the courtroom. He labeled the outcome the creation of an unprecedented “one-person privileged class,” calling the legislation unconstitutional.
Democratic Party Responds to Privilege Allegations
The Democratic Party swiftly rejected Han’s remarks, calling them sophistry. Bong Geun-woo, a standing deputy spokesperson for the Democratic Party, questioned Han’s moral authority to discuss special privileges in a written briefing.
Bong pointed to past controversies surrounding Han, including unprosecuted allegations involving his daughter’s resume and avoided internal party audits regarding a party bulletin board controversy. The spokesperson asked how Han could talk about others having privileges after enjoying what he described as a systematic evasion of investigations and audits.
People Power Party Rallies Against Ruling Majority
The People Power Party launched its own offensive, organizing street rallies and issuing statements condemning the ruling majority’s legislative tactics. Park Seong-hoon, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated that the ruling party was sacrificing the nation’s legal system to shield a single leader’s judicial risks.
Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik also used social media to criticize the inclusion of the forcible repatriation of North Korean fishermen case—which lower courts judged with guilty verdicts—in the special prosecutor’s target list. He argued that attempting to overturn lower court rulings through legislative majority votes undermines the judiciary entirely. The party scheduled an outdoor protest rally near Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul to protest the bill’s passage.
Democratic Party Defends Special Prosecutor Mandate
The Democratic Party defended the legislation as a necessary truth-finding mechanism. Democratic Party spokesperson Sohn Myung-su asked why the opposition was taking to the streets instead of addressing the core issues.
Sohn stated that the bill focuses entirely on whether prosecutors and state agencies exercised unlawful authority during investigations and indictments under the previous administration. The party urged critics to stop framing the probe as political maneuvering and to acknowledge the investigation’s true purpose.
People Power Party Protests Forcible Repatriation Case Legislation
What specific legal case included in the special prosecutor’s scope drew criticism from the People Power Party?
The legislation includes the forcible repatriation of North Korean fishermen case, in which lower and intermediate courts handed down guilty verdicts. The People Power Party argued that targeting this case is an attempt to overturn existing judicial rulings through the legislative process.
Where did the People Power Party schedule its street rally to protest the bill?
The People Power Party scheduled an outdoor rally near Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to protest the Democratic Party’s push for the special prosecutor legislation.
Which political figures exchanged sharp criticisms regarding the concept of special privileges?
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party standing deputy spokesperson Bong Geun-woo clashed over the term, with Han labeling the bill a privilege law for a single leader and Bong pointing to Han’s past unprosecuted controversies.
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