Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon dismissed the Democratic Party of Korea's allegation of information leaks within the prosecution, saying, "There has never been any instance of receiving materials from the prosecution, nor has there been any kind of collaboration with the prosecution." He then went on the offensive, asking Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won whether there had been any instance of visiting the home of a person surnamed Yang, who is facing allegations of being a prosecution broker.
Han met with reporters at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 9th and stated his position on the Democratic Party's recent allegations of investigative information leaks by the prosecution. He said, "I will file a complaint against party leader Kim Min-seok for spreading false information," adding, "To be clear, there has never been any instance of receiving materials from the prosecution, nor of collaborating with the prosecution."
Earlier, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said at the supreme council meeting that morning, "We judge that the claims currently being raised by Representative Han could not occur without a collaborator inside the prosecution," adding, "I thought we should thoroughly verify the facts and, if there is a leaker, move to a stage where all involved are dealt with under the law."
Han also denied allegations that he tipped off the media with information related to nominee Kim. He said, "I state clearly, staking my honor, that I have never directly provided materials to any media outlet."
After rebutting the Democratic Party's allegations, he demanded answers over the controversy that nominee Kim visited the home of a person surnamed Yang. Han said, "I have a question for nominee Kim," asking, "Has nominee Kim ever gone to the home of the broker Yang?" He also asked, "Did you go to that home and take a photo one-on-one? Answer."
Han went on to say that the so-called "oppa" allegation is the essence of this matter. He said, "The word 'oppa' is an essential term that, in a single word, shows unfairness and favoritism," adding, "I have no interest at all in what kind of personal feelings there may have been between the two." He added, however, "This is a case in which a public official called 'oppa' accepted a request from his younger-sister broker and carried out illegal lobbying."