Turn of the Tables... "Reveal the Whistleblower's Real Name" Park Ji-won Pressures Joo Ho-young

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 Seunggon Han, Intern Reporter Yeonju Kim] Park Ji-won, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, demanded that the "former high-ranking official who leaked the copy" reveal their real name regarding the allegation of signing a "30 billion dollar inter-Korean economic cooperation side agreement" raised during the confirmation hearing.

On the 28th, Park released a statement saying, "The agreement is false and fabricated, and I will consider taking legal action against Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party," expressing his position.

Earlier, on the 27th, Floor Leader Joo revealed a document containing signatures of Park Ji-won and North Korean Vice Chairman Song Ho-kyung of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, claiming that a side agreement was made to provide North Korea with 3 billion dollars over three years ahead of the 2000 inter-Korean summit during Park's confirmation hearing.

On the morning of the 28th, Floor Leader Joo appeared on YTN Radio's "Start New Morning" and stated that the copy of the agreement disclosed at the previous day's confirmation hearing was obtained through a tip from a former high-ranking public official.

Floor Leader Joo pointed out, "At first, (Park) said he did not remember, then said he did not sign it, and in the afternoon said it was forged."

Park argued, "Floor Leader Joo and United Future Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung said, 'The president can ask the National Security Office chief at the Blue House to verify the authenticity,' but we already inquired with the special envoy to North Korea and received confirmation that they have no memory of it and that it is not true."

He added, "Floor Leader Joo's claim is a serious defamation of the special envoy who successfully arranged the agreement between former President Kim Dae-jung and the 2000 inter-Korean summit," and warned, "As I said, do not hide behind parliamentary immunity but make it official. We will review the illegality of Floor Leader Joo's media interview statements and hold him legally accountable," signaling a strong response.

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