Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon said today (16th), "I am very curious as to why Rep. Kim Nam-guk is even saying that it is 'my work' that he was caught by the financial authorities for secretly coin coins."

During his visit to the National Assembly today to attend a plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Han told reporters, "Rep. Kim keeps saying that (the coin controversy) is my work on YouTube, but I think the people have gotten used to it for not a day or two to blame me or the prosecution if the MDP has anything."

Lawmaker Kim appeared on YouTube's "Kim Eo-joon's News Factory" yesterday and said, "I suspect that the Yoon Suk-yeol government was intentionally leaked to cover up the actual situation of the Yoon Suk-yeol government with this issue," and asserted, "I think he wrote the (first) article by obtaining information held by state agencies or investigative agencies."

A minister said, "No matter how hard I try to find a connection, there doesn't seem to be anything other than what Congressman Kim coin did when he questioned me," adding, "I think it's a bit unreasonable to call it my work."

He pointed out that Rep. Kim was found to have traded coins during a ministerial confirmation hearing on May 5 last year.

Regarding the recent battle with the Participatory Coalition, which has identified itself as the "No. 9 public official to be removed," Han said, "There are a lot of people who say, 'It's only you who lose to face a civic group, such a powerful political group,' and I think that's true, and I know that, but I think it's okay for a public official to lose money while doing what he or she is supposed to do for the public good."

He continued, "I don't denigrate everything that the Participatory Solidarity has done, but I would like to ask if it is the protection of the weak that the Participatory Solidarity is talking about when people around me keep saying, 'Why don't you say anything?' and you can't say even an empty word about the documentary about the former mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, who attacks the victims of sexual violence who are clearly weak."

He also said, "Even though the Participatory Solidarity did not receive government subsidies, it is more problematic to have a position where it receives a salary from the government and power through taxes than to receive direct government subsidies," adding, "In addition to the past five years, when it was called the 'Participatory Solidarity Republic,' the Participatory Solidarity was power itself under the Democratic Party administration."

He emphasized, "If you are offered a position of power in exchange for political support in the name of a civic organization, I think it is difficult for me to think of it as a normal civic organization that serves the public interest."

Regarding the idea of running for the general election, a minister said, "As Minister of Justice, I am trying to do it in good faith, but I think it is still lacking a lot. I will do my best to serve as Minister of Justice."

(Photo=Yonhap News)