[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] With the confirmation hearing for Park Ji-won, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, scheduled for the 27th just one day away, the United Future Party has sharply targeted allegations of academic fraud and debt issues.
On the afternoon of the 27th, the United Future Party held a joint meeting of the advisory group for Park’s confirmation hearing and the Intelligence Committee at the National Assembly, raising additional suspicions surrounding the nominee.
Ha Tae-kyung, the United Future Party’s floor leader on the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, criticized during the meeting, “Looking at the attitude of the Blue House, the Democratic Party, and Park Ji-won toward the confirmation hearing, it is blatantly clear that they intend to ‘trample and proceed’ and ‘do not care.’ They even ignored the law by refusing to provide documents and did not agree to a single witness.”
Ha also stated that Park is blatantly giving false explanations. Regarding the academic fraud issue, he said, “It is recorded in the academic register and transcript that Park attended Dankook University for three semesters, but he claims to have attended for four semesters. Although he transferred in February 1965, he claims the school was closed and classes did not start, but according to the Dankook University student newspaper, the closure lasted only one week.”
Furthermore, Ha said Park claimed that after transferring to Dankook University, “he did not take a single required major course.” Ha pointed out, “Whether in the past or now, to graduate from university, one must complete at least the minimum required major courses. However, out of the 163 credits Park earned, 100 credits were liberal arts courses and 63 credits were elective major courses.”
He also mentioned that Park praised President Chun Doo-hwan in 1980 and posted the related video on his Facebook page.
The United Future Party also focused its attack on Park’s debt controversy. They claim that Park borrowed 50 million won from a high-value donor and has not repaid it for five years, calling it “virtually illegal political funding.”
On the same day, Rep. Lee Cheol-gyu criticized, “Park explained that he borrowed the money due to a lack of living expenses, but looking at his asset registration at the time, he had 50 million won in cash besides his deposits. This is evidence that it was not a normal financial transaction.”
Rep. Lee also added allegations that Park received tens of billions of won in National Intelligence Service funds while working at the Blue House during the Kim Dae-jung administration. He said, “Lee Jong-chan, the first director of the National Intelligence Service under the People’s Government, said that at Park’s request, who was a senior secretary at the Blue House, he delivered the NIS expenses. It was also reported that Lee Kang-rae, the former senior secretary for political affairs and then head of the policy office, gave a similar statement.”
He continued, “Park said the Blue House did not use the NIS activity funds, but if these people did not intend to slander Park with falsehoods, then Park deceived the public. He must provide a convincing explanation regarding this statement as well.”
Rep. Cho Tae-yong criticized, “The more we investigate Park’s life trajectory, the less we understand what kind of person he is. There are so many peculiar and illogical aspects.” Kim Geun-sik, head of the advisory group, also pointed out, “He must honestly admit his flaws. He continues to ignore the repeatedly raised false transfer and academic issues. It seems there is still no room for reflection.”
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