"Park Ji-won Gate" vs "Yoon Seok-yeol Accusation Collusion" Ruling and Opposition Parties' 'Frame War'

Kim Ki-hyun "Jo Seong-eun must explain meeting Park Ji-won"
Ruling party "Absurd diversion attempt"... Jo Seong-eun "Framing"

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking on the 12th at the National Assembly regarding the meeting between Cho Seong-eun, the whistleblower of the 'prosecution recommendation' suspicion and former vice chairman of the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) election committee, and Park Ji-won, director of the National Intelligence Service. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The 'accusation tip-off' controversy is escalating into a framing battle between the ruling and opposition parties. The People Power Party and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's camp launched a counterattack, claiming that the key to this case lies in the connection between Cho Seong-eun, former vice chairman of the Future United Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) election committee who reported the 'accusation tip-off' suspicion, and Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

After Cho first reported to the online media Newsbus on July 21, it was revealed that she met with Director Park on August 11, before the story was published, raising the possibility of Park's involvement in the case. In response, the Democratic Party dismissed the NIS involvement allegations as "absurd diversion."

On the 12th, Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly, calling it "an incident that could be called the 'Park Ji-won Gate'" and stated, "There is a strong suspicion that the connection between Park Ji-won and Cho Seong-eun is the background behind this (accusation tip-off) incident."

He argued, "Judging from Cho's statements, it strongly suggests that the whistleblower and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI) are colluding like a rigged card game, working together in conspiracy," and "The core of this is the connection between Cho Seong-eun and Park Ji-won, the NIS Director."

He continued, "It is utterly incomprehensible why Cho met Director Park before the media coverage after the tip-off," adding, "We demand an explanation on how much the meal cost at the most expensive restaurant in the top-class hotel in Seoul where the two met, who paid for it, who else besides Park Ji-won and Cho Seong-eun was present at the meal, and whether the expenses were public funds or private personal costs."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon's camp also labeled the matter as the 'Park Ji-won Gate.' Jang Je-won, a People Power Party lawmaker and head of Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign situation room, held a press conference that day, stating, "There is an allegation that Director Park intervened in the presidential election to eliminate a leading opposition candidate," and "Tomorrow, we will file a complaint against Director Park for violating the National Intelligence Service Act and the Public Official Election Act."

He also said, "Cho is effectively Park Ji-won's political foster daughter," and "It is known that Park and Cho have a very long-standing relationship. Anyone can guess what the two discussed when they met at this time."

Whistleblower Jo Seong-eun, former vice chairman of the Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) election campaign committee. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, the Democratic Party countered that the opposition is attempting an absurd diversion by dragging the NIS Director into the issue.

Spokesperson Lee So-young criticized in a briefing that day, "Those who consistently insisted on 'thorough investigation and disclosure' without revealing even the basic facts that they could disclose themselves are now resorting to harsh criticism, calling the investigation a 'surprise attack' and the HOCI a 'monster,' which is regrettable."

She added, "They are absurdly trying to divert attention by dragging in the NIS Director, who had no involvement whatsoever in the political prosecution's accusation tip-off process," emphasizing, "Regardless of whom the whistleblower met during the reporting process, the fact remains that the accusation tip-off incident occurred during the April 2020 general election. The essence lies in whether the prosecution tipped off the People Power Party to accuse ruling party figures."

Meanwhile, Cho appeared on SBS 8 News on the 12th and stated that no one else was present at the meal with Director Park in August. She dismissed the opposition's claim that the incident is related to Director Park as a "framing attempt."

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