Politics · South Korea · 4 hrs ago
South Korea parties trade accusations over lawmakers’ children
South Korea’s Democratic Party has called for a new investigation into a case involving the daughter of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon.
She was accused of selling an e-book containing math problems made by someone else, in an alleged copyright violation.
A Democratic lawmaker said police sought legal cooperation with the United States in 2022 to obtain evidence, but prosecutors did not pass on the request to the Justice Ministry.
Han was justice minister at the time, and Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether he was told about the case or had a conflict of interest.
Han denied the accusations and said the party was making baseless claims.
He also raised an earlier allegation that Democratic lawmakers helped introduce a bill drafted by the son of party leader Kim Min-seok when the son was in high school.
The dispute has intensified as Han has recently taken a prominent role in criticizing the governing party; Democratic lawmakers are seeking answers and a renewed investigation.
South Korea’s Democratic Party and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon traded accusations over allegations involving the children of Han and party leader Kim Min-seok.
Democratic Party lawmakers called for a reinvestigation into the handling of a copyright case involving Han’s daughter.
They alleged that Han may have intervened in the investigation while serving as justice minister.
Han denied the accusation and renewed claims that Democratic Party lawmakers helped advance a bill drafted by Kim’s son.
- Who
- Democratic Party lawmakers and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon.
- What
- They exchanged accusations over allegations involving Han’s daughter and Kim Min-seok’s son.
- When
- The dispute was reported on October 11, 2026; the allegations also concern events in 2022.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The Democratic Party sought answers about the handling of a copyright investigation involving Han’s daughter, while Han raised claims about a bill drafted by Kim’s son.
Democratic Party
Han Dong-hoon
Investigation into Han’s daughter
Democratic Party
The party said the handling of the copyright case raised suspicions that the investigation was blocked and called for a reinvestigation.
Han Dong-hoon
Han rejected the accusation, calling it a Democratic Party “delusion.
Kim Min-seok’s son’s bill
Democratic Party
Not stated.
Han Dong-hoon
Han alleged that Democratic Party lawmakers introduced a bill personally drafted by Kim’s son when he was a high school student.
The recent National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit revealed that the case involving Han Dong-hoon's daughter's alleged violation of the Copyright Act was covered up at the prosecution stage.
It is a Democratic Party delusion. So there is no question of covering anything up.
I cannot shake the suspicion that this was the result of blocking the investigation.
The son of a lawmaker, still in high school, personally drafted a bill, and his father, lawmaker Kim Min-seok, and Democratic Party lawmakers actually introduced it.
Police requested legal assistance from the United States to obtain material related to the copyright allegation involving Han’s daughter.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office handled the request as not being sent on to the Justice Ministry, according to Democratic Party lawmaker Park Gyun-taek.
Park raised the possibility that Han had intervened in the investigation during a parliamentary audit of the Justice Ministry.
Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee said the case raised suspicions that the investigation had been blocked.
Democratic Party spokesperson Park Seong-jun called for a reinvestigation, and Han responded by rejecting the accusation and raising claims about Kim’s son.
- Han Dong-hoon
- Independent lawmaker
- Kim Min-seok
- Democratic Party leader
- Copyright allegation
- Han’s daughter was accused of making and selling an e-book of math problems created by someone else for $0.99
- Police request
- November 2022
- Parliamentary audit
- October 8, 2026
Sources
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