On October 23, during a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission, allegations surfaced regarding false credentials and school violence involving the children of Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker and former leader of the People Power Party. Opposition lawmakers highlighted the need for equitable treatment compared to past investigations into the children of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, urging the education authorities to conduct thorough verifications. The Ministry of Education responded that it would consider its role based on requests for investigative cooperation or discussions with local education offices.
Rep. Kang Kyung-sook of the Justice Innovation Party focused her inquiries on Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin regarding allegations against Han's daughter, Han Ji-yoon, during the National Assembly audit.
Kang stated, "In a paper published in an overseas journal, a mechanical translation error referred to psychological warfare as 'Mental Fighting,' and the author is Han Dong-hoon's daughter." She described this as a "ridiculous error" arising from plagiarism. She also pointed out that when Han Ji-yoon received awards from the Seoul Mayor and the Incheon City Council Chair in 2021, she listed the donation of 50 laptops worth 13 million won as part of her achievements, questioning whether this was an example of 'daddy's chance' and if this award was used as part of her college application credentials.
Kang continued to criticize the perceived unfairness in the investigation process and raised concerns about allegations involving Han's son. She noted, "The police requested international judicial cooperation from the U.S., but the prosecution denied it after 11 days, raising suspicions of unusual investigation suppression." She contrasted this with the case of Cho Kuk's daughter, who faced over 90 searches resulting in the cancellation of her degree and license, while Han Ji-yoon entered MIT without a single search in 20 months. Additionally, she mentioned that allegations of school violence against Han's son were dismissed under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, emphasizing that 74.6% of the public demands a re-investigation.
Kang specifically referenced Chadwick International School in Songdo, Incheon, where Han Ji-yoon studied, stating, "The school has not disclosed any disciplinary actions citing privacy concerns." She questioned whether the government should actively verify allegations of research ethics violations or false credentials, even for foreign educational institutions.
In response, Minister Choi stated, "I have no special comments," but added that if a re-investigation occurs or if cooperation requests arise, the Ministry of Education would consider its responsibilities. Regarding Chadwick International School, he noted, "The primary oversight authority for foreign educational institutions lies with the local education offices that granted their licenses," and assured that the Ministry would collaborate with the Incheon Education Office to determine necessary actions and its level of involvement.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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