Democratic Party and Moon Targeted by Ruling Party Over 'Minnocho Spy' Allegations (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) was subjected to a search and seizure by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on suspicion of espionage. In response, the People Power Party (PPP) launched sharp criticism targeting the Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The DPK has not issued an official stance except for Floor Leader Park Hong-geun raising suspicions in connection with the 'transfer of counterintelligence investigation authority.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Ki-hyun, a ruling party presidential candidate, said on his social media on the 19th, "Yesterday, the NIS and police conducted search and seizure operations at 12 locations nationwide, including the KCTU, on charges of violating the National Security Act," adding, "This is a courageous decision that could only be made under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. If it had been the Moon Jae-in government, such an attempt would have been taboo, let alone imagined." He criticized the Moon administration.

He continued, "The Democratic Party should not make frivolous remarks such as labeling this incident as a pro-North Korea smear or public security oppression," and pointed out, "This espionage case stems from the Moon Jae-in administration's submissive, low-profile stance toward North Korea, which weakened our counterintelligence capabilities while indulging in a disguised peace show with North Korea."

Kim Byung-min, a PPP emergency committee member, also wrote on SNS, "Why is the Democratic Party of Korea, the main opposition party that was responsible for South Korea's security until recently as the ruling party, silent about this espionage case?" "If the words of Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, that 'there is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties in security matters' are not empty rhetoric, then sincere actions to protect national security should follow," he criticized.

Kim also urged former NIS Director Park Ji-won, who recently rejoined the DPK, saying, "I saw an interview with a government official today who said, 'There are quite a few cases that have been shelved for a long time,' which caught my attention," and asked, "To former Director Park: During your tenure as NIS director, were you ever briefed on or aware of such espionage cases? If so, why did you not actively investigate and instead shelve them while pretending not to know? Please clarify."

Ha Tae-kyung, a lawmaker who served as the ruling party's intelligence committee secretary in the first half of the National Assembly, also commented on the same day on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' regarding Floor Leader Park's allegations, saying, "'If the claim is that this was fabricated to block the transfer of counterintelligence investigation authority,' then that is a misjudgment of the situation. They do not fabricate spies. It is the 21st century; the NIS of South Korea would not engage in such absurd acts."

He also implied that the previous administration blocked the full-scale investigation of espionage cases. He said, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, inter-Korean relations were somewhat good in the early days. So, they knew about the spies. They had been tracking them continuously since 2017. However, they blocked the full-scale investigation."

He added, "They blocked it, and since blocking it until the last year of the Moon administration could cause problems later, the 'Cheongju Spy Group' case suddenly emerged in the final year," and explained, "Now, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration does not block such things. There is no need to block; rather, they actively encourage it, so such cases are coming out one after another."

Although the DPK has not issued a clear stance on the espionage suspicions, voices within the party call for a thorough investigation and root-out. DPK lawmaker Lee Won-wook said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' on the same day, "We cannot confirm the truth of the espionage suspicions, but if such things did happen, they must be thoroughly investigated and rooted out," adding, "It is absolutely unacceptable to claim that someone acted as a spy by receiving orders from North Korea and contacting North Korea."

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