Hataekyung "Using State Secrets to Attract Attention... Will File a Lawsuit"
National Intelligence Service "No Precedent of Directors Disclosing Work Details" Expresses Regret
Park "If Burdensome, Be Careful with Public Remarks in the Future" Apologizes
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Ji-won’s revelation that the NIS holds internal records related to politicians, businesspeople, and journalists has sparked controversy. Both ruling and opposition parties criticized Park for allegedly leaking information obtained through his public office inappropriately and called for restraint.
In an interview on June 10 with CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' Park stated, "The NIS creates and keeps dossiers, or X-files, on all members of our society, including politicians, businesspeople, and journalists. If these are disclosed, it would cause social problems," adding, "We must not leave behind an unhappy history for both ruling and opposition parties. A special law should have been enacted to destroy these files, but it was not."
He continued, "When I said in the National Assembly, 'If these X-files are revealed, some lawmakers will get divorced,' Ha Tae-kyung, the secretary of the Intelligence Committee from the People Power Party, said, 'I haven’t lived that way, so why would you say that? Why would I get divorced?' So I asked, 'Aren’t you a complicated person? Shall we reveal it once?' Then Ha said, 'Don’t do that.'"
When asked if the X-files included information on President Yoon Suk-yeol, Park replied, "If I violate the NIS Act, I will go to prison again," but added, "I cannot speak in detail, but fundamentally, yes, there is."
Park’s remarks drew immediate criticism from the political sphere as inappropriate. Ha Tae-kyung, mentioned in the remarks, announced legal action, accusing Park of spreading false information.
On June 13, Ha posted on Facebook, "(Park) fabricated a conversation that never happened between us, severely damaging the trust I have built with the public," and stated, "Using state secrets obtained through public office to attract media attention is unacceptable. I will promptly file a lawsuit."
Kim Hyung-dong, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement saying, "Park’s remarks clearly violate the NIS Staff Act," and criticized, "Not only did he fail to fulfill his duty as a former head of the NIS to maintain strict confidentiality of the agency’s activities, but he also claimed there is an X-file on President Yoon Suk-yeol, seemingly to assert his political relevance."
Within the Democratic Party of Korea, some also called for Park’s restraint. Representative Park Yong-jin said in an interview with BBS Radio’s 'Jeon Young-shin’s Morning Journal,' "Even after about three years since serving as NIS director, one should act as if they have neither seen nor heard anything, and maintain silence even if there is something to say," adding, "I think it is appropriate not to discuss matters related to the NIS going forward."
The NIS also issued an unusual press release expressing regret. The agency stated, "Regardless of the facts, publicly disclosing duties learned during tenure as director is inappropriate behavior for a former director," and criticized, "Remarks related to NIS work by a former director are interpreted politically and may drag the NIS and its staff, who silently dedicate themselves to national security, into unnecessary political turmoil. There has been no precedent of directors mentioning work details in media interviews immediately after retirement."
In response, Park acknowledged his remarks were inappropriate and apologized. Through Facebook, he said, "I intended to express my belief that NIS documents should not be used for political strife, and this is something I have mentioned during meetings with lawmakers and journalists from both parties," adding, "Regardless of the reason, if this causes burden to the NIS and its staff, with whom I am proud to have served, I will be more cautious in future public statements."
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