"Prosecutor's Office Must Investigate"... Fierce Criticism from Opposition over Meeting Between Jo Seong-eun and Park Ji-won

So-called whistleblower Jo Seong-eun, known for the 'accusation manipulation suspicion'.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] The People Power Party has criticized Cho Seong-eun, who was revealed to have reported the so-called 'accusation manipulation suspicion' involving former Prosecutor General and presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol.

Before reports about Yoon's accusation manipulation suspicion were released, Cho met with Director Park on the 11th of last month and had a meal together. Cho stated, "Director Park is close to former Prosecutor General Yoon. He has nothing to do with this incident but is being forcibly linked," adding, "Even when I meet Director Park, we only have casual conversations." Director Park also said, "I often talk on the phone with Cho and think she is a smart person," but drew a line by saying, "There was absolutely no discussion related to this incident (the accusation manipulation suspicion involving former Prosecutor General Yoon)."

However, Yoon's side issued a statement today (the 11th), saying, "We were shocked to learn that whistleblower Cho Seong-eun met with National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won before the malicious false reports by the internet media 'Newsbus' began," and pointed out, "We cannot shake off the suspicion that even the head of the intelligence agency was involved in removing former Prosecutor General Yoon as a preliminary candidate."

Yoon's side also claimed, "If Director Park is involved in this operation, it will cause a huge scandal known as the 'Park Ji-won Gate,'" and argued, "The way state power agencies seem to have been fully mobilized to strike the strongest opposition candidate who can realize regime change suggests a comprehensive conspiracy at the regime level."

A photo posted on Facebook by Seong-eun Jo on the day she met Director Ji-won Park.
[Photo by Seong-eun Jo]

Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said on his Facebook, "As the presidential election approaches, the specter of political manipulation is being revived again." He also described Cho as "a political wanderer who has been involved with five political parties over six years since entering politics," and added, "The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials should immediately investigate the suspicious meeting between Director Park and Cho."

Presidential candidates from the People Power Party also joined the criticism. Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong argued, "This could become a second Ulsan mayoral election manipulation case," and demanded, "Director Park should be immediately dismissed." Additionally, Representative Ha Tae-kyung also urged on Facebook, "Director Park should be immediately booked, and a swift investigation into the political manipulation suspicion should be launched," sarcastically adding, "Who would believe that they only had private conversations?"

Meanwhile, some quarters are paying attention not only to Cho's past political history but also to every detail of her private life. It was revealed that Cho and Director Park had a meal at a high-end hotel restaurant, and a photo of a luxury foreign car, a Maserati, that Cho posted on her social media in the past has recently attracted attention.

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