Court: "Prosecutor's Office's No-Charge Decision on 'Tipster Manipulation Suspicion' Against Park Ji-won Is Appropriate"

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, is attending the full meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee held at the National Assembly on November 25 last year. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The court has ruled that the decision by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo) not to indict former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Jiwon in connection with the so-called 'tip-off manipulation' allegations was justified.

According to the legal community on the 14th, on the 10th, the Criminal Division 30 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Bae Gwangguk, Jo Jingu, and Lee Hyeran) dismissed the retrial petition filed by the 'Special Committee for Truth Investigation of Political Manipulation by Yoon Seok-yeol's National Campaign.' A retrial petition is a system that allows a court to review a prosecutor's decision not to indict.

The court also found the decision not to indict co-accused Jo Seongeun and unidentified individuals to be appropriate.

Previously, the internet media outlet 'Newsbus' raised the 'accusation manipulation' allegations on September 2 last year, claiming that President Yoon Seok-yeol, while serving as Prosecutor General, mobilized the prosecution organization to tip off opposition party lawmakers to file accusations against pro-government figures.

During the presidential primary, President Yoon's side accused former Director Park and former NIS employees of intervening in the process by which Jo provided related information to the media, and filed complaints against them with Gongsoocheo. President Yoon's side claimed that they violated the National Intelligence Service Act and the Public Official Election Act, and defamed President Yoon by spreading false information.

In June, Gongsoocheo decided not to indict them on charges of violating the NIS Act, stating there was no evidence to prove such allegations. However, it judged that former Director Park's statement that "Yoon Seok-yeol exerted influence over the Yoon Woojin case and possesses related materials" partially constituted a charge and requested the prosecution to file an indictment. Nevertheless, the prosecution also decided not to indict this part, citing insufficient evidence.

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