After former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, indicted on charges of taking bribes and illegal political funds, was acquitted on appeal following his acquittal at trial, the ruling camp is taking aim at independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who was Minister of Justice at the time, blasting it as a "fabricated indictment by political prosecutors."
Noh was tried on charges that from February to December 2020 he took a total of 60 million won in five installments from a businessman surnamed Park in return for favors related to power plant supply and solar power projects, brokering permits for a logistics center, and campaign funds. Han Dong-hoon, then Minister of Justice, said on Dec. 28, 2022 at the National Assembly, while explaining the motion to arrest Noh, that there was clear evidence, saying, "Even the voice and the rustling sound of the cash envelope were recorded as is." The motion was voted down with 101 in favor, 161 against, and 9 abstentions.
On the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 5-2, the appellate court, acquitted Noh, saying some of the evidence submitted by prosecutors was collected illegally and was inadmissible, and that it was difficult to see the charges as sufficiently proven with the remaining evidence alone.
After Noh was acquitted on appeal following his acquittal at trial, the ruling camp raised the issue of lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's responsibility. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won wrote on social media, "Prosecutors and Han Dong-hoon, who was the justice minister at the time, must answer. In his speech to request an extension of detention at the plenary session, Han claimed the rustling sound of the cash envelope was evidence. Take responsibility and make a profound apology."
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ju-min wrote on social media, "Han's attitude of not acknowledging wrongdoing seems to show the problems of the prosecution as they are," and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Yeon-hee said, "Political prosecutor Han Dong-hoon should make a profound apology and resign from the National Assembly."
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok wrote on Facebook, calling it "a case where prosecutors grabbed an innocent person with fabrication and framing," and added, "At this point, wouldn't it be a conscientious prosecution only if they untie the knot they made and make a profound apology?"
As Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers kept up their attacks, Han wrote on Facebook on the 22nd, "The audio file of the conversation between the broker's wife and lawmaker Noh Woong-rae, which was also played in court in Noh's case, went beyond the level of a 'rustling sound of a cash envelope' and contained in stark detail the 'conversation after receiving the money,'" adding, "Even if an acquittal came for the formal reason that the court excluded it as illegally collected evidence because the investigator did not obtain an additional warrant, the substance of receiving a cash envelope does not disappear."
Han said, "Let's all listen to that audio file together at the National Assembly," adding, "It will be valuable material for the public to judge the true nature of President Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party of Korea politicians who shield politicians who took cash envelopes."
The night before, Han also wrote on Facebook that Noh was not acquitted because it was shown he did not actually take money, but for the formal reason of excluding illegally collected evidence (including the audio file). Han said, "At the court stage, Noh at one point even acknowledged receiving money that day," adding, "Do not mislead the public as if he was unfairly investigated and tried."