A court ruled that the Ministry of Justice's dismissal of former chief prosecutor Shin Seong-sik over the so-called "Han Dong-hoon transcript false report" case was justified.
The Administrative Division 11 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Kim Jun-young) on the 6th ruled against the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by former chief prosecutor Shin seeking to "cancel the dismissal" against the Minister of Justice.
Shin, then the third deputy chief at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, became subject to discipline on the grounds that in June–July 2020 he told KBS reporters false information as if it were the conversation between then chief prosecutor Han Dong-hoon (former People Power Party leader) and former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae. At the time, KBS reported a "transcript," saying it contained circumstances suggesting that Lee and then chief prosecutor Han colluded to raise suspicions related to Yu Si-min, head of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, but the next day acknowledged it was a false report and apologized.
The Ministry of Justice's Prosecutors' Disciplinary Committee convened in Feb. 2024 and resolved to dismiss the former chief prosecutor, and Shin filed an administrative lawsuit in Apr. of the same year in protest. Under the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act, disciplinary actions are classified as reprimand, pay reduction, suspension, removal from office, and dismissal, with dismissal being the highest level of severe discipline. If dismissed, attorney registration is restricted for a certain period.
Meanwhile, in connection with this case, the former chief prosecutor was also brought to criminal trial on charges of defaming former leader Han, but was acquitted at the first trial in Aug. last year. The court determined that even if some statements appeared false, awareness of falsity and intent were not established.
After submitting a resignation letter in Dec. 2023, the former chief prosecutor ran as an independent in the Apr. 10, 2024 general election for the Suncheon–Gwangyang–Gurye–Gokseong Gap district in South Jeolla Province but lost.