Jang Sung-chul: "Will Destroy X-Files... One from Government Agency, Another from Ruling Party"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Conservative political commentator Jang Seong-cheol, who sparked controversy over the 'Yoon Seok-yeol X-file,' announced on the 23rd that he would immediately shred the X-file he possesses in document form.

On the same day, Jang said on SBS's 'Joo Young-jin's News Briefing,' "The side of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol did not ask for the (X-file)," adding, "Then I feel it is unnecessary. Just holding onto this document can cause many misunderstandings and is inappropriate." He continued, "Since it could become a subject of another political dispute, I will shred it as soon as I get home after this broadcast ends."

He added, "If the X-file is disclosed, it could constitute defamation or spreading false information," and "It could also violate the Public Official Election Act as it may influence the election."

Jang emphasized, "If it reached me, a few people must have it," and "If that file is leaked or made public, former Prosecutor General Yoon would suffer significant damage. I do not want that."

He also claimed, "The document from April and the one from June were created in different places," and "(The person who gave me the X-file) said the June document was 'received from the ruling party,' and the April document was said to be 'received from some agency.'"

When asked by the host whether the agency was a government agency, Jang replied, "Overall, I just say it is a government agency," and "(The person who delivered it) even told me it was made by a certain department of a certain agency." He added, "There are issues with the person who gave it to me, and I also need to protect those currently in office," and "It took considerable courage to reveal this much."

When the host asked if he had any suspicion of surveillance when he saw the X-file, he said, "At first, I did not have that awareness," and "Yesterday, the side of former Prosecutor General Yoon mentioned 'illegal surveillance,' and after seeing that, I thought, 'Ah, that could be possible.'"

Jang explained that both versions of the X-file had specific creation dates but did not indicate the creating agency or author. He emphasized, "I am not a member of the People Power Party, nor an official of the People Power Party. I am a political commentator," and "Although I have been active in the opposition, I am not currently affiliated with the People Power Party, and I do not think it is wrong for me to post my opinions on my personal SNS."

Jang, a former aide to ex-People Power Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, also worked in April under the Vision Strategy Office of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee during the by-election phase.