Joseong-eun and Park Ji-won Met Just Before First Report on Alleged Report-for-Hire... Opposition Party Calls It "Political Conspiracy"

Meeting after August 11 and also at the end of August
Cho "Did not discuss media reports"
Opposition claims possibility of political manipulation
Kim Jae-won "National Intelligence Service chief guilty of political interference"

Cho Sung-eun, former vice chairman of the election campaign committee of the United Future Party (now the People Power Party), who revealed himself as the whistleblower in the suspicion of instigating the prosecution of ruling party figures through the opposition party, appeared on JTBC Newsroom on the afternoon of the 10th, presenting evidence submitted to investigative agencies.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Jo Seong-eun, who reported allegations that the prosecution solicited political parties to file complaints, revealed that she met with Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, again at the end of August. This timing is just before the initial report of the complaint solicitation allegations on September 2. Initially, it was known that Jo and Director Park met for a meal on August 11. There had been suspicions from the opposition that during this meeting, Jo and Director Park discussed whether to report the complaint solicitation allegations to the media, known as the so-called ‘tip solicitation’ allegations. However, the confirmation that Jo met with Director Park again just before the first report has intensified these suspicions.

Jo appeared on YTN Radio that day and acknowledged, "I met (Director Park) around the fourth week of August," but drew a line by saying, "(We) did not discuss (the report) at all." Regarding the host’s speculation that Director Park might have given some advice related to the tip, she dismissed it as "completely unrelated."

However, the opposition claims that the two meetings, spaced two weeks apart, imply the possibility of political manipulation. Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio that "(Director Park) might have just told (Jo) to cooperate with the investigation, so (she) complied," and added, "It’s not just about the term ‘tip solicitation’; there is a political interference crime under the National Intelligence Service Act. If the Director of the National Intelligence Service uses his position to spread opposition against a specific politician, that constitutes political interference." Additionally, the opposition criticized Director Park’s recent media interview, where he targeted former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl by saying, "Why are you stepping on the tail of a sleeping tiger?" calling it a ‘threat’ against opposition presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, Jo announced that she would visit the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission as a whistleblower that day. It is expected that she will undergo the usual interview procedures for protective measures. A commission official said, "We cannot confirm any details regarding this matter."