Justice minister condemns Rep. Kim Eui-kyum for making false accusations

Friction between Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, a key member of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and the opposition bloc appears set to further escalate, with Han hinting that lawmakers should be held responsible for their words.

On Tuesday, Han hit back at Rep. Kim Eui-kyum of the main opposition, who had raised suspicion that Han met with lawyers from Kim ＆ Chang at an upscale bar with President Yoon Suk-yeol.

“Rep. Kim acts like he as a license to lie,” Han said to reporters at the National Assembly, where he was in attendance for the president's parliamentary budget speech.

Han said, "(Kim) continues to lie as his actions are overlooked, and he accepts no responsibility for them.”

Han added, “But, it should be different this time,” implying that Kim should take responsibility for what he said.

Han's comment has been interpreted as implying the lawmaker from the opposition party made false accusations during parliamentary inspections in an abuse of parliamentary immunity, which exempts lawmakers from liability.

About Kim's allegedly false accusation, some members of the ruling party also argued that Kim, emboldened by the immunity, had tried to instigate the public with lies.

The war of words between Han and Kim started on Monday during a parliamentary inspection targeting the Ministry of Justice. Rep. Kim asked Han if he remembered going to a party on July 19. Kim added that he had been tipped off about the event.

During the session, Kim played a recording of a phone call between Lee Se-chang, former acting president of the nongovernmental organization Korea Freedom Federation, and another person whose voice was modulated. Han was drinking and President Yoon was singing at the party, which was attended by around 30 lawyers from Kim ＆ Chang, the country’s top law firm, according to the recording.

In response, Han said he had not attended such an event that night. He also said he would "bet everything, including the minister position and other government positions he may take in the future" that the accusation was not true. Han pressed Kim on what he would wager on the accusation.

Han expressed his displeasure at the accusation, asking Kim if he was "confident enough to insult a justice minister." Han also asked if he could provide evidence.

Meanwhile, Lee, the former acting president of the Korea Freedom Federation, said Tuesday that the accusation was the result of someone “writing fiction.” Lee, who also was in attendance at the boozy party, according to Kim’s recording, added that he does not know Han or Yoon personally.

Friction between Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, a key member of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and the opposition bloc appears set to further escalate, with Han hinting that lawmakers should be held responsible for their words.

On Tuesday, Han hit back at Rep. Kim Eui-kyum of the main opposition, who had raised suspicion that Han met with lawyers from Kim ＆ Chang at an upscale bar with President Yoon Suk-yeol.

“Rep. Kim acts like he as a license to lie,” Han said to reporters at the National Assembly, where he was in attendance for the president's parliamentary budget speech.

Han said, "(Kim) continues to lie as his actions are overlooked, and he accepts no responsibility for them.”

Han added, “But, it should be different this time,” implying that Kim should take responsibility for what he said.

Han's comment has been interpreted as implying the lawmaker from the opposition party made false accusations during parliamentary inspections in an abuse of parliamentary immunity, which exempts lawmakers from liability.

About Kim's allegedly false accusation, some members of the ruling party also argued that Kim, emboldened by the immunity, had tried to instigate the public with lies.

The war of words between Han and Kim started on Monday during a parliamentary inspection targeting the Ministry of Justice. Rep. Kim asked Han if he remembered going to a party on July 19. Kim added that he had been tipped off about the event.

During the session, Kim played a recording of a phone call between Lee Se-chang, former acting president of the nongovernmental organization Korea Freedom Federation, and another person whose voice was modulated. Han was drinking and President Yoon was singing at the party, which was attended by around 30 lawyers from Kim ＆ Chang, the country’s top law firm, according to the recording.

In response, Han said he had not attended such an event that night. He also said he would "bet everything, including the minister position and other government positions he may take in the future" that the accusation was not true. Han pressed Kim on what he would wager on the accusation.

Han expressed his displeasure at the accusation, asking Kim if he was "confident enough to insult a justice minister." Han also asked if he could provide evidence.

Meanwhile, Lee, the former acting president of the Korea Freedom Federation, said Tuesday that the accusation was the result of someone “writing fiction.” Lee, who also was in attendance at the boozy party, according to Kim’s recording, added that he does not know Han or Yoon personally.

By Shim Woo-hyun (ws@heraldcorp.com)