Kim Seung-won Case Investigation Line Staffed with 'Han Dong-hoon Faction' Prosecutors

At today's hearing, Rep. Kim Seung-won's questions were particularly sharp among those from various lawmakers. These questions concerned how absurd former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon's remarks were. The questioning proceeded more as seeking opinions than direct questions, and Rep. Kim Seung-won mentioned the remarks from two perspectives.

During the morning hearing, there was a point where bipartisan consensus was reached. Rep. Kim Min-jeon stated, “If Han Dong-hoon’s prosecution had done its job properly, would this administration have been born?” criticizing former Minister Han Dong-hoon’s incompetence. The moderator remarked that he agreed with this statement. It was pointed out that although former Minister Han Dong-hoon praised himself as the 'best prosecutor,' he might actually be the most incompetent prosecutor.

It was argued that the true intention of the investigation report in the Kim Seung-won case, which former Minister Han Dong-hoon called 'obscure,' was clearly revealed. Lee Jae-myung's name appeared three times in the investigation report, and several individuals related to Daejang-dong were also mentioned. This analysis suggests that Lee Jae-myung was behind the targeted investigation of Kim Seung-won.

Not only the content of the investigation report, but also the timing of its creation raised questions. The report was reportedly drafted on November 28, 2022, and a separate document called the investigation commencement report was also present. It is difficult to understand why leader Lee Jae-myung and the Daejang-dong case were mentioned from the first day of the investigation, despite the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's directive for a COVID-19 treatment-related investigation.

This strengthens the argument that there was an intention to target leader Lee Jae-myung through Kim Seung-won.

It was argued that no other explanation is possible for the Kim Seung-won investigation except for the intention to apprehend leader Lee Jae-myung. It is believed that the search for connections with leader Lee Jae-myung began from the very start of the investigation. Although former Minister Han Dong-hoon called Rep. Kim Seung-won 'obscure,' it was analyzed that the prosecution had a deep interest in Rep. Kim Seung-won and began investigating his connections even before officially commencing the investigation. Criticism followed that former Minister Han Dong-hoon's Facebook claims were missteps.

These prosecutors all had deep connections with former Minister Han Dong-hoon. During Rep. Kim Seung-won’s questioning at the hearing, it was regrettable that Democratic Party lawmakers did not focus more on this point. It was seen as a good opportunity to record this as a legacy of prosecutorial investigative dictatorship.

Looking at the investigation of Rep. Kim Seung-won's case, Prosecutor Lee Jin-dong was assigned at the time. Lee Jin-dong is known as a representative figure of the Yoon Seok-youl faction. Originally, this case was handled by the KFDA-exclusive department, but it was revealed that when the investigation was not proceeding smoothly, Prosecutor Lee Jin-dong unilaterally reassigned it to the Special Investigation Division 5. This raises suspicions about the intended direction of the investigation.

From former Minister Han Dong-hoon's perspective, he was an individual worthy of being described as 'someone he couldn't bear to see hurt.' In contrast to Rep. Kim Seung-won, an individual with a special relationship with former Minister Han Dong-hoon was assigned to the special investigation division of the Western District Prosecutors' Office.

Shin Dong-won served as spokesperson during Han Dong-hoon's tenure as Minister of Justice. It was pointed out that the public is well aware of the role a spokesperson for an institution head plays. Furthermore, Chief Prosecutor Kim Jong-wook, who was to handle this case, was also revealed to have served as Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice during Han Dong-hoon's time as Minister of Justice. Thus, individuals who served as Han Dong-hoon's 'mouthpiece' were assigned to the core investigation line.

Criticism was raised that when former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon had personnel authority, he appointed his close associates as deputy chief and chief prosecutor. There are suspicions that he sent his right and left-hand men to stalk and investigate Rep. Kim Seung-won, whom he had disparaged as 'obscure.' Rep. Park Eun-jung also described this as 'stalking.' It was further revealed that these three prosecutors are now all affiliated with the major law firm Kim & Chang.

This case was deemed a significant weakness for former Minister Han Dong-hoon and was identified as a key issue on which the Democratic Party should focus its efforts. Particular attention was drawn to the fact that in September 2023, the investigation line for the Kim Seung-won case at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office was completely replaced by a pro-Han Dong-hoon faction. At that time, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Chief Prosecutor, and the lead prosecutor were all replaced. This analysis suggests that it may hold meaning beyond mere personnel changes.

It is known that following the first arrest warrant rejection in February 2023, the second arrest warrant was also rejected around September or October. It was interpreted that from the perspective of the Yoon Seok-youl faction, they had not achieved their desired objective as the warrant for leader Lee Jae-myung was rejected.

It is analyzed that the investigation into leader Lee Jae-myung failed to achieve the desired objective of arrest, despite mobilizing cases like Ssangbangwool, Daejang-dong, and Baekhyeon-dong. In particular, the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance manipulation case was considered a trump card but failed. As existing evidence and even the perjury case did not result in a warrant, it seems a new pressure tactic and new evidence were needed. September 2023 was precisely this time.

It is analyzed that former Minister Han Dong-hoon would know this case better than anyone. However, it is pointed out that former Minister Han Dong-hoon is exaggerating it as if new facts have been revealed.

This situation was effectively evaluated as a failed investigation by former Minister Han Dong-hoon. He tried to revive a failed investigation, but people saw the records and understood its true nature. Many question why he is bringing up a past failure to arrest Rep. Kim Seung-won now. It was analyzed that if former Minister Han Dong-hoon had not mentioned this issue at all and remained silent, he might have been criticized inversely.

Like the saying 'the best defense is a good offense,' it was believed to be a strategy to shift from a defensive to an offensive stance during the hearing. This manifested as a re-examination of the Kim Seung-won case and can be interpreted as an intention to deflect the focus of the controversy away from himself.