[Comprehensive] "If True, Full Responsibility"... Park Ji-won, the Veteran 'Political Master' Who Deflected Piercing Questions

Park Ji-won, from 'Sniper' to 'Defender'... Controversy over 'Academic Fraud and North Korea Stance'

Park Ji-won, nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, is responding to questions from lawmakers at the Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The confirmation hearing for Park Ji-won, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, held on the 27th, attracted attention as a sniper became a defender. Despite fierce exchanges, Park countered the pointed questions from opposition lawmakers, even mentioning a 'request for investigation' to the floor leader of the United Future Party.

Some quarters have evaluated that the true nature of the seasoned 'political 9-dan' politician Park Ji-won was revealed. For now, the United Future Party stated that they would participate in adopting the hearing report if the Ministry of Education agrees to investigate the allegations of academic forgery against Park.

During the hearing, the United Future Party launched a full-scale offensive by focusing on allegations against Park, including △academic forgery at Dankook University, △secret remittance to North Korea, and △controversy over a 50 million won debt.

In particular, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, caused a stir by revealing a so-called 'secret agreement' for North Korea bearing Park's signature. The agreement contained a promise to send 500 million dollars to North Korea.

In response, Park said, "Both the signature and the document are forged," and if the secret agreement exists, he said, "I will take full responsibility, including withdrawing my candidacy." He also stated that he would request an investigation by the prosecution and police authorities.

On the 27th, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the confirmation hearing for Park Ji-won, the nominee for Director of the National Intelligence Service, Park expressed his position regarding the materials comparing the signature on the economic cooperation agreement presented by Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the United Future Party, with previously submitted signatures. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Park also completely denied the allegations of academic forgery. On this day, Ha Tae-kyung, a United Future Party lawmaker, pointed out, "The allegation of academic forgery against Park carries the label of 'power-type' unlike ordinary academic forgery," adding, "Because Park committed academic forgery in 2000 when he was a powerful figure."

He continued, "As a result of our judgment, when Park was a power player in 2000, he coerced Dankook University to conceal his dark past and forged his academic credentials once again."

Ha claimed that Park forged his academic credentials twice: △in 1965 during the transfer process to Dankook University, and △in 2000 while serving as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In response, Park rebutted, "Fifty-five years ago, it was a time before Representative Ha was even born, and there is a big difference between the social concepts then and those of the 21st century," adding, "I attended classes diligently, and since Dankook University recognized my credits and told me to graduate, I did so."

As the verbal exchange between Ha and Park over the academic forgery allegations continued, when Ha said, "The public is watching," Park responded, "Our people are watching too."

Regarding the suspicion that Park borrowed 50 million won in 2015 from Mr. Lee (78), the CEO of a certain company, and did not repay the principal and interest for five years, raising suspicions of illegal political funds, Park dismissed it as "I borrowed it from a friend."

He added, "Chairman Lee did not receive any special favors during the Kim Dae-jung administration. He had grown before and continued to run a business with special technology afterward," and said, "I borrowed 50 million won personally because he is a friend, and I declared the asset," adding, "Whether I repay or not is a matter between me and my friend."

Also, regarding his role as the 'Welcome Committee Chairman for Chun Doo-hwan' in the United States in 1980, he said, "I live reflecting on my mistakes." He explained, "I said the same during former President Kim Dae-jung's exile in the U.S." Park served as the president of the Korean American Association in New York and was the welcome committee chairman during former President Chun Doo-hwan's visit to the U.S.

Ha Tae-kyung of the United Future Party (from the left), Lee Cheol-gyu, Kim Kyung-hyup of the Democratic Party, and other members of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee are heading to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee meeting room where the closed hearing for Park Ji-won, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, is being held on the afternoon of the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, regarding the allegation that a 'behind-the-scenes agreement' was made for North Korean aid worth 3 billion dollars during the 2000 inter-Korean summit process, Park reportedly acknowledged that discussions between the two Koreas took place but stated that no agreement document was drafted.

Ha Tae-kyung, the United Future Party's ranking member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, explained this during a press briefing after a closed confirmation hearing.

Ha said Park stated, "During the second contact in Shanghai, North Korea requested cooperative support, but the South said that cash support was not possible and that investment funds of 2 to 3 billion dollars might be possible through private businessmen," conveying a general discussion.

Ha explained, "This means that Park admitted that such discussions took place between the two Koreas," adding, "In other words, the content of the agreement was mentioned by both sides, but no actual agreement document was drafted or signed, according to Park's response."

Park rebutted, "There was absolutely no discussion or agreement to provide money as economic cooperation," adding, "North Korea initially demanded 2 billion dollars in cash support, but we said that all funds are executed according to the budget and that cash support is impossible under any circumstances, advising them not to be penny wise and pound foolish."

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