[Anchor]

After former Democratic Party lawmaker Roh Woong-rae, who was put on trial on charges including receiving illegal political funds, was acquitted in his second trial, President Lee Jae-myung launched a direct criticism against the prosecution's investigation. He stated that considering how frustrated Roh must have been due to the political prosecutors' indictment, he will ensure that innocent citizens do not fall victim to the abuse of state power. Democratic Party lawmakers targeted Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who was the Minister of Justice at the time of the prosecution's investigation.

Today's first news is reported by Reporter Kim Kwan-jin.

[Reporter]

This is what President Lee Jae-myung posted on social media last night, immediately after former Democratic Party lawmaker Roh Woong-rae—who was indicted on charges of receiving 60 million won in bribes and political funds from a businessman—was acquitted in his second trial yesterday.

Calling former lawmaker Roh "a respected university senior," President Lee wrote, "Indicted by political prosecutors and even stripped of his political life by his party, how frustrated you must have been." He added, "I will surely build a country where innocent citizens are never victimized again by the abuse of state power."

President Lee, who was the leader of the Democratic Party during the 2024 general election when former lawmaker Roh was cut off from nomination, also added an explanation, saying, "Because it was an election we had to win no matter what, we had no choice but to exclude him from the nomination with tears in our eyes."

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok claimed on social media, "This is a case where the prosecution framed and ruined an innocent person through fabrication."

The Democratic Party also raised the issue of accountability for Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who served as the Minister of Justice around the time the prosecution was investigating former lawmaker Roh.

[Shin Hyun-young / Spokesperson for the Democratic Party: It took a staggering three years and nine months to rectify the fabricated indictment and fabricated investigation by Han Dong-hoon's political prosecutors.]

They are particularly taking issue with remarks made by Han when he explained the motion to arrest former lawmaker Roh at the National Assembly as the Minister of Justice at the time.

[Han Dong-hoon / Then Minister of Justice (December 2022): Even Roh Woong-rae's voice and the rustling sound of the money envelope are recorded as they are.]

[Roh Woong-rae / Former Democratic Party Lawmaker (December 2022): This is intentionally and viciously neutralizing my right to defense, and I cannot help but doubt whether the transcript actually exists.]

Lawmakers such as Park Ji-won are sharpening their criticism regarding Han's "money envelope sound" remarks, demanding that he "apologize profusely."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Reported by Shin Dong-hwan and Lee Chan-su | Video edited by Lee Seung-jin | Design by Kim Han-gil)