[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] Park Min-sik, a candidate for the People Power Party's Busan mayoral primary, claimed on the 18th that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) conducted illegal surveillance even during the Kim Dae-jung administration, referring to the 'illegal wiretapping' incident from that era. This contradicts the report by Park Ji-won, the head of the NIS, to the Intelligence Committee stating that there was no illegal surveillance during the Kim Dae-jung administration.
Park Min-sik, a former lawmaker and a candidate in the People Power Party's Busan mayoral primary, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 18th to disclose illegal wiretapping activities by the National Intelligence Service during the Kim Dae-jung administration, related to remarks made by Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
On the day, Candidate Park held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, stating, "Director Park should fully disclose the reality of illegal wiretapping during the Kim Dae-jung administration and stop political manipulation." Park had served as the lead prosecutor in the illegal wiretapping case conducted by the NIS during the Kim Dae-jung administration.
He said, "This is not mentioned in the indictment or the judgment, but the NIS during the Kim Dae-jung administration was an illegal wiretapping organization. Among them, the 8th Bureau used wiretapping equipment to indiscriminately eavesdrop on employees," adding, "The large-scale operation within the organizational structure cannot be compared to the NIS inspections during other administrations."
Candidate Park mentioned, "During my time as the lead prosecutor of the Special Investigation Division 1, I prosecuted former NIS Directors Shin Geon and Im Dong-won, as well as former Deputy Director Kim Eun-sung, all of whom were convicted by the court." He added, "Why distort these objective facts and why does the NIS Director tell blatant lies while bringing up surveillance during the Lee Myung-bak administration 12 years ago? The NIS should no longer interfere in politics."
After the press conference, when meeting with reporters, Candidate Park said, "I am prepared to clearly reveal whether wiretapping occurred during the Kim Dae-jung administration and to submit further evidence and materials if lies are told again."
He continued, "The National Intelligence Service Act details the crime of political involvement. It prohibits not only defaming or supporting a specific political party but also engaging in political acts to form favorable or unfavorable public opinion, which also constitutes political involvement." The mention of illegal surveillance during the Lee Myung-bak administration at this time, ahead of the April 7 by-elections for Seoul and Busan mayors, serves as a warning that the NIS's actions could be seen as political interference.
Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker who attended the press conference, said, "Director Park says that the illegal surveillance case during the MB government should not be exploited in the election, but he is actually making politically manipulative remarks. He claims that there was surveillance during the Lee Myung-bak government, high likelihood during the Park Geun-hye government, none during the Kim Dae-jung government, and that the surveillance during the Roh Moo-hyun government was merely personal misconduct with no responsibility. This is contrary to the facts and itself is political manipulation."
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