Ha Tae-kyung: "Only 1 out of 10 Park Ji-won witnesses accepted... Will visit Dankook University to verify academic fraud"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the Future United Party, criticized that the opposition party requested 10 witnesses for Park Ji-won, the nominee for the National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, but only one consent was obtained.

On the 21st, Ha said after the full meeting of the Intelligence Committee at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, "I deeply regret the attempt to turn the hearing itself into a blind hearing."

He explained, "(The United Party) requested 10 witnesses, but only one out of the 10 agreed," adding, "The others are important people."

Ha cited Choi Jong-heup, former 3rd Deputy Director of the NIS, who conducted background investigations on former President Kim Dae-jung and was sentenced to prison, saying, "Since he served a prison sentence and underwent investigations, (consent for the witness) is absolutely necessary," and emphasized, "Also, former actor Choi Jung-min publicly testified that he was threatened with contract murder by nominee Park."

Ha also mentioned witnesses related to Park’s academic fraud, including Kim Soo-bok, president of Dankook University, and Choi Do-sung, president of Gwangju National University of Education, stating, "They have completely blocked verification related to academic fraud," and added, "Witnesses from institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Defense, and National Health Insurance Service are government-affiliated agencies, and it is rare for them not to consent, but even these are being completely blocked."

Ha and the United Party’s hearing committee plan to visit Dankook University’s Jukjeon Campus in the afternoon for an on-site investigation. Ha emphasized, "Through a meeting with the president of Dankook University, I will thoroughly expose the suspicions of Park’s fraudulent degree acquisition."

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