Police have begun questioning the accuser after allegations emerged that Han Dong-hoon exposed internal prosecution documents while disclosing investigation materials related to candidate Kim Seung-won.
The investigation is proceeding rapidly, with questioning taking place just three days after the case was assigned to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station.
During the police investigation, Assembly member Kim Dong-a urged a thorough investigation into the channels through which Assembly member Han Dong-hoon allegedly leaked internal prosecution investigation materials.
This document is known to contain the prosecution's internal investigation directions and plans, and its external disclosure is strictly prohibited.
The current controversy suggests that Assembly member Han made a significant error in judgment by exposing an internal prosecution document while disclosing investigation materials to attack a specific candidate.
An internal Ministry of Justice investigation confirmed that the materials disclosed by Han Dong-hoon are accessible only to investigative officials. Currently, six officials on the investigative team who had access to the relevant data have been identified.
It is analyzed that investigative agencies can confirm their login records and data access through compulsory searches and seizures, thereby increasing the likelihood of identifying the leaker.
Depending on the outcome of this investigation, Han Dong-hoon could face punishment as an accomplice in the leaking of secret investigation materials. If found to have colluded with the person who leaked the data internally from the prosecution, it would be difficult to avoid substantial penalties.
Some analyses suggest that this incident could serve as an opportunity to eradicate the practice of leaking investigation secrets within the prosecution. Since the leaked data is an internal document strictly prohibited from external disclosure, it could be utilized as a chance to purge widespread leakers within the prosecution.
Regarding this accusation, Han Dong-hoon protested via his SNS, stating, "Police are quickly acting on an unfounded political accusation." He criticized the swift police investigation, asserting that this incident was initiated with political motives.
In the past, there were cases where attempts were made to prosecute media outlets (such as lawyer Hyun Geun-taek) for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act while reporting on investigation materials. However, the materials leaked at that time were primarily those submitted during trial proceedings.
The data leaked by Han Dong-hoon this time differs from past cases in that it is an internal prosecution document, a 'Prosecution Plan,' which was not submitted to the court. This can be seen as a more serious issue than merely leaking investigation materials, amounting to the leaking of internal prosecution secrets.
Assembly member Kim Seung-won's case was serious enough that the prosecution internally considered seeking a prison sentence, but it ultimately resulted in a suspended indictment. It is analyzed that Han Dong-hoon intended to highlight the seriousness of Assembly member Kim Seung-won's case and prove that the prosecution had considered seeking a prison sentence, but in doing so, he disclosed the internal prosecution plan document which should not have been exposed externally.
Han Dong-hoon judged that it was inappropriate for Assembly member Kim Seung-won to be nominated as Minister of Justice while retaining his position as a National Assembly member. He attempted to use the document to show that Kim Seung-won's past suspended indictment was not a minor case. This is interpreted as an intention to point out the circumstances of Kim Seung-won's suspended indictment and emphasize his unsuitability.
However, in this process, Han Dong-hoon appears to have overlooked the potential repercussions if the internal prosecution plan document were exposed externally. It is pointed out that by disclosing an internal review document, he invited a larger controversy regarding the leak of investigation secrets.
This leak is seen as a misjudgment by Han Dong-hoon, who, in an attempt to show the prosecution's will to realize justice, instead caused unnecessary scandal.
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