Seong-eun Jo Denies 'Park Ji-won Backing Allegation' Amid Growing Controversy

Suspicious Explanation Draws Opposition
"Clear Suspicion of Ruling Party Collusion" Repeatedly Pointed Out

Jo Seong-eun, former Vice Chairman of the Future United Party (currently People Power Party) Election Countermeasures Committee
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Cho Seong-eun, former vice chairman of the Future United Party (now People Power Party) election committee who first reported the ‘accusation of prosecution collusion’ suspicion to the media, strongly denied political claims that Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, was involved in the matter, but the unclear explanation has not quelled the controversy.

On the 13th, former Vice Chairman Cho posted on Facebook, "I understand that Director Park is friendly with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, so he was not considered (for consultation regarding the report)." He added, "Moreover, the September 2nd report by Miraein, which came a month after (the time he had dinner with Director Park), was an unexpected accident, so the claim is nonsense." However, the theory of Director Park’s involvement was partly brought on by former Vice Chairman Cho himself. He appeared on a broadcast the day before and said, "The date of September 2nd (the first report) was not a date that our director (Director Park) or I wanted or discussed," which provided room for such speculation.

In response, the opposition has begun to steer the suspicion away from former Prosecutor General Yoon, a leading opposition candidate, toward a government conspiracy. The People Power Party immediately claimed that there was clear suspicion of collusion. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting that day, "The explanation is insufficient," and added, "There is a strong suspicion that the National Intelligence Service director gave some kind of coaching (advice)." Kim Eun-hye, head of the People Power Party’s public relations headquarters, also criticized on Facebook, "What was the real date that the director and Cho Seong-eun wanted? If reporter Lee Jin-dong (publisher of the internet media that made the first report) hadn’t caused an accident, was the agreed-upon date for the report October or the more dramatic November?" She added, "Conspiracies should be kept within limits." Political commentator Dr. Yoo Chang-sun also pointed out, "Who was the consideration for, and with whom was the date discussed?" calling it "almost a confession."

Meanwhile, former Vice Chairman Cho reiterated his certainty that ‘Son Jun-sung,’ who sent related files to Assemblyman Kim Woong, is Prosecutor Son Jun-sung. On the radio that day, he explained that although he did not save Prosecutor Son’s number, he confirmed it was the same person by comparing it with those who had saved the number.

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