Ha Tae-kyung: "Park Ji-won, an Expert in Praising Dictators... Does He Qualify as Director of the National Intelligence Service?"

Ha Tae-kyung, Member of the Future United Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] On the 9th, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the United Future Party, strongly criticized Park Ji-won, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, ahead of the parliamentary confirmation hearing, asking, "Does an expert in praising dictators have the qualifications to be the head of the NIS who protects democracy?"

On the same day, Ha posted on his Facebook, saying, "Park Ji-won, who praised Jeon Du-hwan and Kim Jong-un, as the president of the Korean American Association in the early 1980s, congratulated Jeon Du-hwan on his presidential election and organized a welcoming event," making this statement.

He pointed out, "Also, in a 1982 interview with KBS, he said, 'Korea needs a leader like President Jeon Du-hwan, and the December 12 coup and May 18 Gwangju Uprising were heroic decisions,' and as a reward for such praise, he even received the Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaekjang, from the Jeon Du-hwan regime."

He added, "In a 2013 JTBC interview, Park praised Kim Jong-un, who brutally purged his uncle Jang Song-thaek, saying, 'His stern expression without blinking in front of a large crowd is admirable,'" and explained, "North Korea even mocked Park's 2000 visit to Pyongyang, calling him a 'theatrical actor who flatters to an embarrassing degree.'"

He continued, "What exactly was said in Pyongyang at that time that elicited such remarks from North Korea must be fully disclosed by Park," adding, "The head of the NIS is the frontline defender of democracy in the Republic of Korea. Praise for dictators should never be a qualification criterion for the NIS director."

Earlier, on the 8th, President Moon Jae-in approved the request for a confirmation hearing for nominee Park.

Meanwhile, the United Future Party plans to launch a confirmation advisory group ahead of Park's confirmation hearing. The advisory group leader is Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, who ran as the United Future Party candidate for Seoul Songpa-byeong in the April 15 general election but was defeated.

The advisory group includes members such as lawmakers Ha Tae-kyung and Jo Su-jin, Shin Beom-cheol, head of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, lawyers Lee Soo-hee and Kim Jae-sik, former MBC anchor Park Yong-chan, and Kim Cheol-geun, chairman of the United Future Party's Gangseo-byeong district committee in Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.