Park Ji-won: "Fabricating Nonexistent Spies Is Wrong... Investigate Exactly As It Is"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Ji-won recently responded to suspicions that the Moon administration deliberately did not conduct spy investigations, saying, "It is also wrong to fabricate nonexistent spies," in relation to the recent rapid progress in the NIS's spy investigations.

On the 19th, Park Ji-won stated on his social media service (SNS), "It is bad not to catch existing spies, but it is also bad to fabricate nonexistent spies."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "The political situation is noisy due to recent nationwide anti-espionage raids and seizures. Many reporters are calling to inquire, but if I talk about this, it would violate the NIS Act and I could be investigated, prosecuted, or sued," asking for understanding that "I cannot speak freely."

Regarding suspicions that the previous administration deliberately delayed anti-espionage investigations, he rebutted, "As the NIS has stated, public security investigations take years for thorough evidence collection," adding, "To those who criticize that the Moon Jae-in government did not conduct investigations! Has the Yoon Suk-yeol government been in office for 5 years and 8 months?"

He further explained the reasons for the investigation delays, saying, "Consider that the borders were closed due to COVID-19 and foreign travel was restricted," and "You should understand how difficult, lengthy, and evidence-dependent anti-espionage investigations are. Now, more than ever, the prosecution and judiciary require strict evidence."

However, he also expressed doubts about the recent rapid progress in anti-espionage investigations. Park Ji-won said, "I also have doubts about when travel freedom was restored after COVID-19 and whether espionage-related charges connected so quickly from abroad," adding, "I believe the NIS staff will conduct the investigation as it is. They must not commit any mistakes."

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and considered a close aide to former President Moon Jae-in, also raised similar suspicions on SNS that day. He pointed out, "Spy investigations rely on secrecy, so it is customary not to report to the National Assembly or anywhere else during the investigation. But how is it that recently pieces of related investigations have been leaking to the media daily?" and added, "It seems like media play."

Meanwhile, voices from the ruling party are calling on former NIS Director Park Ji-won to explain the delays in anti-espionage investigations. Kim Byung-min, a member of the People Power Party's emergency committee, said on SNS that morning, "In a media interview today, a government official's remark that 'there are quite a few cases that have been shelved so far' caught my eye," and asked, "To former Director Park: During your tenure as NIS director, did you receive reports or confirm such spy cases? Are there really cases that were known but ignored and shelved without active investigation?"

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