Police assign Han Dong-hoon daughter probe cover-up complaint; hearing set for 27th
In short
Police have assigned a complaint alleging that independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon helped cover up an investigation into his daughter's alleged false credentials to the wide-area investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The unit will interview the complainants at 10:00 on the 27th. Acting police chief Kim Jong-cheol has said a re-investigation is not ruled out if new facts emerge.
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Police have assigned a complaint over an alleged cover-up of the investigation into the daughter's alleged false credentials of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon to the wide-area investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, outlets reported on the 23rd. The unit is to interview the complainants at 10:00 on the 27th. Chosun Ilbo said police announced the assignment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Civic groups including the Minsaeng Economy Research Institute filed the complaint with the National Investigation Headquarters, accusing Han and prosecutors suspected of involvement in the earlier probe of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty. CBS NoCut News and Seoul Economic Daily dated the complaint to the 14th, and Newsis said four civic groups filed it. CBS NoCut News reported that the complaint was also filed with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and that this case was transferred to its Seoul regional office on the 19th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The complaint centres on a request made in November 2022 by the Seoul police anti-corruption and public crime unit to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for international judicial assistance to obtain overseas evidence in a copyright law case. The complainants allege prosecutors blocked the request. CBS NoCut News and Newsis reported that in December 2022 the prosecutors' office did not forward it to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Justice Ministry, citing insufficient justification, and CBS NoCut News said it also cited a minor matter while Newsis said it cited a low likelihood of US cooperation. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The original complaint was received in May 2022, when Han was justice minister. Police decided in December 2023 not to refer it for prosecution. Chosun Ilbo said the business obstruction charge was judged unfounded and the copyright charge was closed because the original author had not filed a complaint. The complainants say police did not sufficiently examine the hours of volunteer work, the awards or whether a thesis was ghostwritten, and they demand a re-investigation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-cheol said at the 12th parliamentary audit that he would not rule out a re-investigation if new facts emerge. Seoul police chief Ko Beom-seok said on the 19th that he would review the scope of any re-investigation after the Justice Ministry audit result and an analysis of the earlier investigation, according to CBS NoCut News and Newsis. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Chosun Ilbo and Newsis also reported that the unit took over from Yeongdeungpo police station on the 19th other complaints involving Han. Chosun Ilbo said one concerns his alleged leaking of prosecution investigation records. [ 3 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The case could lead police to look again at the 2023 decision not to refer the original credentials complaint for prosecution, which Kim Jong-cheol and Seoul police chief Ko Beom-seok have left open. Ko said the scope of any re-investigation depends on a Justice Ministry audit and a review of the earlier probe.
Key facts
- Police assigned the complaint over the alleged cover-up of the probe into independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's daughter's alleged false credentials to the wide-area investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, reported on the 23rd. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The unit is to interview the complainants at 10:00 on the 27th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Civic groups including the Minsaeng Economy Research Institute (민생경제연구소) and Seoul's Voice (서울의소리) filed the complaint on the 14th, accusing Han and prosecutors of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Police did not refer the original complaint for prosecution in December 2023. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-cheol said on the 12th that he would not rule out a re-investigation if new facts emerge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Seoul police chief Ko Beom-seok said on the 19th that the scope of any re-investigation would be reviewed after the Justice Ministry audit result and an analysis of the earlier probe. [ 1 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The case was assigned to the Seoul police wide-area investigation unit, with a complainant interview set for 10:00 on the 27th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Civic groups including the Minsaeng Economy Research Institute accused Han and prosecutors of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty in a complaint filed with the National Investigation Headquarters. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- In 2022 the Seoul police anti-corruption and public crime unit received the complaint over the daughter's alleged false credentials, and in December 2023 police decided not to refer it for prosecution. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim Jong-cheol said at the 12th parliamentary audit that a re-investigation could not be ruled out if new facts emerge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether police will re-investigate the original credentials case. Kim Jong-cheol and Ko Beom-seok only said they leave the possibility open; Ko said the scope would be reviewed after the Justice Ministry audit.
- Whether Han was involved in handling the 2022 mutual legal assistance request as justice minister. Document 1 says this is a subject of the investigation and that the complainants say abuse of authority could be established if his involvement in reports or approval is confirmed.
- Why prosecutors did not forward the mutual legal assistance request. Document 1 says the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office cited insufficient justification and a minor matter, and document 6 says it cited insufficient justification and a low likelihood of US cooperation; other documents only report the complainants' allegation that prosecutors blocked it.
- How many groups filed the complaint. Document 3 refers to one group, document 6 to four civic groups, and other documents to several groups.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CBS NoCut News reports the assignment and the 27th complainant interview. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the assignment to the Seoul police wide-area investigation unit. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports that police said the case was assigned. [ 3 ]
- Complainant interview scheduled on the 27th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]