Park Ji-won: "Jo Seong-eun, a Smart New Generation Junior... Opposition Party Missteps"

Park Ji-won "If you investigate, it will come out... Why make someone who is not even a supporting role the lead?"

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, is announcing the end of national surveillance and delivering a public apology at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 27th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, stated on the 13th that the opposition party's allegations of his involvement in the presidential election are "a wild goose chase by the opposition, but if investigated, the truth will come out."

In a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency on the same day, Park responded to the question, "Did you give any advice to whistleblower Jo Seong-eun regarding the allegations of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's report manipulation?" by saying, "Not at all."

He said, "Some claim that I introduced Jo to a person in the prosecution, and that she contacted the head of the inspection department there, but even now, I do not know who the head of the inspection department is."

He continued, "Isn't this the essence of the case?" and criticized the opposition, saying, "Why are they trying to make someone who is not even a main character into the lead actor as if this is the core issue?" Park also emphasized his innocence, saying, "If such a thing existed, how could I hold my head high before President Moon Jae-in?"

Regarding his relationship with Jo, he said, "The opposition claims it is a special relationship, but that is not true," adding, "She is a smart younger generation junior, and since I am not well-versed in youth or gender issues, I sometimes ask her."

Regarding the opposition's demand for his appearance in the National Assembly, Park said, "If the National Assembly calls me, I will go." However, he drew a line on requests for the disclosure of special activity expenses or records of visits to the National Intelligence Service director's official residence, saying, "Those are things the director of the National Intelligence Service cannot do." This appears to mean that submitting such materials is difficult due to the special nature of the NIS's work.

Earlier, the People Power Party raised suspicions of Park's involvement based on the fact that Jo met with Park on the 11th of last month, before the report manipulation allegations were made public.

Yang Jun-woo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement on the same day, saying, "An investigation must proceed into the political operation aimed at interfering in the opposition party's presidential primary. And the person at the center of these allegations is Director Park," emphasizing, "The director of the National Intelligence Service must clearly state his position on the raised allegations."

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