Including Park Hyung-jun Among Recipients of NIS Documents... Party-Level Response Under Review

Kim Tae-nyeon, Acting Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The Democratic Party of Korea announced on the 30th that it has confirmed evidence that the Lee Myung-bak (MB) administration's National Intelligence Service (NIS) illegally surveilled and intervened in the 2010 local elections. They stated that the distribution list of the relevant documents included Park Hyung-joon, then Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House and now a candidate for Busan mayor from the People Power Party, emphasizing that the party will take measures accordingly.

Kim Tae-nyeon, acting party leader, said at the 2nd plenary meeting of the Special Committee for the Investigation of Illegal Surveillance by the NIS held at the National Assembly that “In June 2010, ahead of the local elections, the NIS prepared a promotional document labeling free school meals as a populist pledge and reported it to the Blue House.”

Kim added, “In the first half of 2010 alone, 14 NIS surveillance-related documents were distributed, and Park Hyung-joon, then Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, was included in the distribution list. The suspicion of surveillance on groups opposing the Four Major Rivers Project during his time as Blue House Public Relations Officer was only the beginning. The surveillance content reported to the Senior Secretary covered all areas indiscriminately, including politics, policy, private sectors, and the media.”

He continued, “Will candidate Park deny and claim ignorance even of MB surveillance? Despite his title being listed, he cannot continue to feign ignorance. Civic groups in the Busan area have also filed complaints against candidate Park for abuse of authority and spreading false information.”

Furthermore, he said, “The party-level response will also be reviewed by the special committee. Revealing the full extent of the illegal surveillance by the Lee Myung-bak administration’s NIS, which trampled on the constitution and democracy, is part of setting history straight. The Democratic Party will thoroughly expose all details of the illegal surveillance surrounding candidate Park.”

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