Han Dong-hoon

The PPP expelled Han on 29 January 2026 after an ethics committee concluded that members of his family had posted defamatory or disparaging comments about Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon-hee on the party's internal forum, politically damaging the party. Expulsion, the most severe internal sanction, deepened factional conflict within the conservative camp.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

PPP Supreme Council finalised expulsion on 29 January 2026; no court reversal identified as of 21 August 2026

Attribution

Direct responsibility

In 2022, lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom and The Tamsa claimed that Han had attended a lengthy drinking party in Cheongdam-dong with President Yoon and Kim & Chang lawyers. The woman who originated the account subsequently told police that she had invented the story. In August 2025, a civil court found the claims false and ordered several of those responsible to pay damages to Han.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Personally implicated

During Han's appointment as Justice Minister, media outlets and associations accused his daughter of inflating her academic record, using outside assistance, plagiarising some work and publishing in questionable journals. The controversy continued during her admission to MIT. Police closed criminal complaints concerning several of these allegations, and a request for reconsideration was subsequently rejected.

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In January 2024, while leading the PPP, Han entered into open conflict with President Yoon Suk Yeol's office. The disagreement concerned, among other matters, the handling of the luxury handbag controversy involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and electoral nominations; the presidential office asked him to resign as party leader, which he refused.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, Han stated that the President had ordered the arrest of political figures and gradually moved towards supporting his impeachment. This reversal split the PPP between loyalists and impeachment supporters. After the impeachment vote, Han resigned as party leader.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No criminal proceedings against Han for participation in martial law

Attribution

Political responsibility

Under Han, the Justice Ministry managed the unit responsible for vetting senior officials. Chung Sun-sin's appointment to head the National Investigation Headquarters was withdrawn almost immediately after an old school bullying case involving his son came to light. Han apologised as the minister responsible for the vetting system.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

As Justice Minister, Han challenged laws limiting prosecutors' direct investigative powers before the Constitutional Court, arguing that the legislative process and transfer of authority violated the prosecution service's institutional rights. In March 2023, the Court dismissed the petition by Han and the prosecutors, while acknowledging certain parliamentary procedural problems in a related aspect.

Legal status — source text

Constitutional Court dismissed jurisdiction dispute petition filed by Justice Minister/prosecutors

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Han, then a senior prosecutor, was suspected of links with a Channel A journalist accused of attempting to pressure a prisoner into making accusations against a figure close to the government. The case prompted a highly publicised investigation, phone seizures and institutional confrontation. In April 2022, prosecutors ultimately closed the allegations against Han for insufficient evidence.

Legal status — source text

Prosecutors cleared Han in April 2022 for insufficient evidence; reporter separately acquitted

Attribution

Personally implicated