Jo Hae-jin: "Park Ji-won, a National Intelligence Service Director without Expertise... Democratic Party Preaches Anti-Americanism but Sends Children Abroad for Study"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jo Hae-jin, a member of the Future United Party, criticized Park Ji-won, the nominee for the National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, saying he is "a person without expertise" and is not suitable for the position. He also pointed out the 'duplicity' of Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, by raising suspicions about his children's overseas education.

On the 20th, Jo said on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "The functions of the NIS have little to do with Park's experience or career."

He added, "In my view, the president's intention in appointing former lawmaker Park as the NIS director is a one-point mission," saying, "It seems to be a single mission to quickly hold a summit between the U.S. and North Korea or an inter-Korean summit within two to three months through secret negotiations with North Korea."

Jo said, "It seems he was appointed with a special mission, but if it is a secret negotiation with North Korea, he could sufficiently do that with a title like presidential special advisor," emphasizing, "The NIS director is the head who leads the NIS organization, and the core tasks of the NIS are counterintelligence, counterespionage, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity, which are the frontline bastions of national security."

When the host pointed out that Park has long experience in the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, Jo responded, "Just because he worked on the Intelligence Committee, does that mean he can command counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cybersecurity operations? Saying that if you worked on a standing committee like the Budget Committee, you could become the Minister of Strategy and Finance is absurd."

Jo said, "Park will probably focus on negotiations with North Korea, but the position of NIS director is not even for that work, and if the NIS director or the organization is used to seek illicit support for North Korea, which North Korea desires, it would be a very dangerous approach," adding, "If mishandled, there is a risk of a second illegal remittance scandal similar to past illegal remittances to North Korea."

Regarding the allegations of Lee's children's 'luxurious overseas education,' Jo said, "(The costs) must have been high, and they might be underreporting now. Also, how was that funding legitimately procured?" He criticized the duplicity, saying, "What I actually find problematic is not just the funds but that the ruling party, which has shouted anti-Americanism and self-reliance since their student activism days, sends their children abroad for study, especially to the U.S. the most."

When Park Beom-gye of the Democratic Party of Korea asked, "What is the United Party lawmakers' perspective on their children's overseas education?" Jo replied, "We have never held such an anti-American stance, and we are demanding consistency in the Democratic Party's words and actions," countering, "From the past, since the student movement days until now, even as politicians in their 50s and 60s, aren't there many who talk about anti-Americanism and U.S. troop withdrawal?"

Jo said, "They send their children to the U.S. from a young age, where ordinary citizens usually cannot afford to send their children, and those who have been involved in student movements, labor movements, civic movements, and political and party activities, claiming 'I have never received a decent salary and have lived my life serving with a volunteer spirit,' send their children to universities that ordinary people cannot afford. Wouldn't the public have doubts?" He criticized, "How did they manage to send them? People want to know that secret, don't they?"

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